the newPlan to strengthen responses to fungal diseases and antifungal resistancepublished on Tuesday, sets out practical measures to improve prevention, diagnosis, treatment and surveillance.
fungal diseases They affect more than 300 million people each year. and are associated with high mortality, long-term illnesses, and significant losses in health and productivity worldwide.
Growing global threat
They range from common conditions such as ringworm and nail infections to serious invasive diseases that can be fatal. especially for people with weakened immune systems, those receiving intensive care, people living with HIV, transplant recipients and cancer patients.
Meanwhile, Antifungal resistance is a growing threat, driven in part by the widespread use of antifungal medications. and its analogues on human, animal and plant health, as well as environmental exposure to antifungal chemicals.
Despite this figure, the WHO said fungal diseases often do not feature in national health treatment policies, estimates of the global burden of disease and in most strategies on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), universal health coverage and One Health, the United Nations agency’s initiative for action on human, animal, plant and environmental health.
‘A concrete path forward’
The plan comes about a month after WHO’s decision-making body, the World Health Assembly, adopted an updated Global Action Plan on antimicrobial resistance, which occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites evolve and become resistant to drugs designed to kill them, making infections more difficult to treat.
It remains one of the main global threats to health and development.
“The updated Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance approved by the 79th World Health Assembly recognized that antifungal resistance is an integral part of the challenge facing antimicrobial resistance, and one we can no longer afford to overlook ”said Dr. Jean Pierre Nyemazi, acting director of the Department of Antimicrobial Resistance at WHO.
He added that the Plan “offers countries a concrete path forward.”
Address critical gaps
The plan is based on the first of the WHOList of priority fungal pathogenspublished in 2022, which identified 19 pathogenic fungi or groups of pathogens that require urgent research, development and public health actions. .
It was developed through a multi-stage process and consultations with more than 150 experts from all WHO regions, including specialists in clinical mycology, diagnosis, management, surveillance, regulatory policy, public health and patient advocacy.
The goal is to help countries address critical gaps in knowledge, diagnosis, treatment, surveillance, research and workforce capabilities, particularly in low-resource settings.
Practical response framework
The WHO plan prioritizes interventions around four interrelated domains, providing a framework for implementation:
Domain 1 focuses on public health and health systems, including strengthening awareness and preparedness, antifungal stewardship programs, workforce training, and infection prevention and control.
Domain 2 refers to expanding equitable access to quality-assured antifungal medicines and diagnostics, while supporting research, innovation and the market.
Domain 3 prioritizes strengthening laboratory systems and surveillance to support clinical management, inform public health decision-making, and improve outbreak preparedness
Domain 4addresses social and environmental factors, including agricultural, environmental and One Health factors that may contribute to the epidemiology of fungal diseases and antifungal resistance.
“Fungal diseases and antifungal resistance remain an under-addressed priority in national health plans, antimicrobial resistance strategies and surveillance systems.
“This plan provides countries with a practical framework to strengthen their response.”said Hatim Sati, Technical Officer of the Department of Antimicrobial Resistance at WHO, who led the development of the guideline.
