An unprecedented list of health-threatening fungi released by the WHO WHO Fungal Infection PublicHealth Research Fungi
By Dr. Chinta SidharthanOct 27 2022Reviewed by Benedette Cuffari, M.Sc. A recent report released by the World Health Organization discusses the first WHO fungal priority pathogens list , which ranks pathogens that cause acute systemic fungal infections, pose a serious risk of morbidity and mortality in humans, and currently present drug resistance and other management challenges.
Patients undergoing immune-suppressive therapies, organ transplants, chemotherapy, invasive medical procedures, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and renal and hepatic diseases are also at increased risk of invasive fungal infections. About the report The present WHO FPPL report was released to increase awareness about priority fungal pathogens for implementing better surveillance, prevention, and control measures. The FPPL could lead to augmented investments in research and development of antifungal therapies and diagnostic methods, as well as support the establishment of public health policies focused on addressing fungal diseases and antifungal resistance.
The WHO commissioned 19 systematic literature reviews to select 19 priority fungal pathogens based on ten assessment criteria. The assessment factors included mortality, annual incidence, global distribution, incidence and prevalence patterns over the last decade, duration of hospital stay required for treatment, long-term complications, antifungal resistance, diagnosis and treatment, and prevention options. The compiled data was used to produce a final ranking of the fungal pathogens.
The 19 fungal pathogens were divided into three groups based on critical, high, and medium priority. Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, Candida auris, and Cryptococcus neoformans were the critical priority pathogens.