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The impact of climate change on the epidemiology of fungal infections: implications for diagnosis, treatment, and public health strategies

Summary

Climate change is making it easier for dangerous fungi to grow and spread to new areas where people have never encountered them before. As temperatures rise and weather becomes more extreme, fungi are becoming resistant to our medicines, especially antifungal drugs used in both farming and hospitals. People living in poverty, displaced by natural disasters, and those without good healthcare access are most vulnerable to these infections. We need to act quickly by developing new treatments, improving diagnosis, reducing agricultural fungicide use, and strengthening healthcare systems in vulnerable communities.

Background

Anthropogenic climate change is reshaping ecosystems and creating conditions that affect 58% of all known human infectious diseases, including fungal infections. Rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events are influencing fungal growth, distribution, and virulence, potentially expanding the geographic range of pathogenic fungi and exposing populations to novel, more virulent, or drug-resistant strains.

Objective

This review explores the intricate relationship between climate change and fungal infections, examining how environmental shifts impact fungal epidemiology, pathogen distribution, antifungal resistance, and host susceptibility. The analysis highlights clinical implications and the urgent need for policy development, educational initiatives, diagnostic enhancements, and novel therapeutic strategies to mitigate the growing burden of fungal infections.

Results

The review identifies multiple dimorphic fungi with expanded geographic ranges including Blastomyces dermatitidis, Histoplasma capsulatum, Coccidioides species, and others. Thermotolerant species like Candida auris show exceptional adaptability with a 200% increase in US cases between 2019-2021. Agricultural azole use drives antifungal resistance globally, with azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus ranging from 0.6% to 80% depending on region.

Conclusion

Climate change presents a multifaceted challenge requiring immediate action through integrated approaches combining climate mitigation, enhanced surveillance, improved diagnostics, antifungal stewardship, and development of novel therapies. Addressing healthcare disparities, strengthening infrastructure in resource-limited settings, and implementing sustainable practices in agriculture and healthcare are essential to mitigate the escalating burden of fungal infections.
  • Published in:Therapeutic Advances in Infectious Disease,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: PMID: 39944519, DOI: 10.1177/20499361251313841
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