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Dermatophyte Treatment Failure: A Rapid Global Response to an Emerging Global Health Issue

Summary

Fungal skin infections affect nearly a billion people worldwide and are becoming increasingly difficult to treat due to growing resistance to common antifungal medications. A new species of fungus called T. indotineae, particularly resistant to the popular antifungal drug terbinafine, is spreading globally from India. To combat this emerging health crisis, doctors and health organizations are working together to create global registries and surveillance programs to track resistant infections and develop better treatment strategies.

Background

Dermatomycoses affect nearly a billion people worldwide, particularly in countries with low socioeconomic indices and vulnerable populations. Rising global rates of dermatophytosis impose considerable burden on healthcare facilities, with emerging treatment failures due to antifungal resistance, particularly to terbinafine.

Objective

To address the emerging global health crisis of dermatophyte treatment failure and antifungal resistance, particularly the rise of T. indotineae strains demonstrating resistance to widely used antifungal agents.

Results

91.7% of surveyed dermatologists reported seeing cases of recurrent and recalcitrant dermatophyte infections in preceding 3 years. T. indotineae identified as predominant resistant species in India, with trunk and groin as most commonly affected areas. Emergence of resistance to multiple antifungals including terbinafine and azoles documented globally.

Conclusion

International collaboration, enhanced diagnostic capabilities, and standardized surveillance programs are essential to combat dermatophyte resistance. An international disease registry has been established by AAD and ILDS to standardize data collection and enable global response to this emerging threat.
  • Published in:Acta Dermato-Venereologica,
  • Study Type:Editorial Review,
  • Source: PMID: 39916485, DOI: 10.2340/actadv.v105.42948
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