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Assessing Diagnostic Capabilities and Treatment Accessibility for Invasive Fungal Infections in the Balkan Region

Summary

Researchers surveyed medical centers across 12 Balkan countries to understand how well-equipped they are to diagnose and treat serious fungal infections. They found that while most centers have basic laboratory tools like microscopes and cultures, advanced molecular tests for identifying fungal species are less common. Antifungal medications like triazoles are widely available, but other important treatment options are harder to find in the region.

Background

Invasive fungal infections (IFI) present diagnostic and treatment challenges that are exacerbated by economic inequalities across regions. The prevalence and characteristics of IFIs vary significantly between different countries and geographic areas. This study was designed to evaluate the current diagnostic and therapeutic resources available for IFIs in the Balkan region.

Objective

The study aimed to assess the diagnostic capabilities and treatment accessibility for invasive fungal infections across medical centers in the Balkan region. The research investigated institutional resources, perspectives on IFI prevalence, and availability of various diagnostic and therapeutic tools.

Results

Among surveyed centers, 38% considered IFI incidence low and 34% very low. All centers reported Candida spp. infections (100%), followed by Aspergillus spp. (72%) and Cryptococcus spp. (43%). Diagnostic accessibility included culture and microscopy (98%), susceptibility testing (93%), and antigen detection (81%), but molecular testing was less available: Aspergillus PCR (48%), Candida PCR (34%), Pneumocystis PCR (43%), and Mucorales PCR (19%). Triazoles were most prevalent (96%), followed by echinocandins (79%) and amphotericin B (68%), with therapeutic drug monitoring available in only 30% of centers.

Conclusion

Balkan mycology laboratories are generally well-equipped with standard diagnostic tools, but molecular diagnostic capabilities are limited to fewer than half of surveyed centers. Triazoles are the most accessible antifungal class, while alternative options such as echinocandins, amphotericin B, flucytosine, and terbinafine have limited availability across the region.
  • Published in:Open Forum Infectious Diseases,
  • Study Type:Survey/Epidemiological Study,
  • Source: 10.1093/ofid/ofae631.2290
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