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Medical Mycology Education in Brazil: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Medical Schools

Summary

This study examined how medical schools in southern Brazil teach students about fungal infections. The researchers surveyed 19 medical schools and found that while all schools include some mycology teaching, it is not offered as a standalone course and there are significant gaps in practical training, laboratory facilities, and instructor expertise. The study highlights that despite Brazil’s burden of serious fungal infections, future doctors are often not adequately prepared to recognize and manage these diseases.

Background

Fungal infections cause significant morbidity and mortality globally, with over 1.5 million annual deaths from severe infections such as aspergillosis, candidiasis, and cryptococcosis. In Brazil, invasive fungal infections are highly prevalent in intensive care units with mortality rates of 30-60%, yet little is known about how medical mycology is taught in Brazilian medical schools.

Objective

To assess the structure, content, and challenges of medical mycology education across medical schools in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, including curricula, infrastructure, faculty training, and perceived barriers to education.

Results

All 19 responding institutions include medical mycology in their curricula but none offer it as a stand-alone subject. Teaching is typically embedded in microbiology (89.5%) and infectious diseases (57.9%), with only 21.1% dedicating over 40 hours. Only 52.6% provide hands-on diagnostic training and 42.1% have a dedicated mycology laboratory. Only 10.5% of instructors have specialized training in medical mycology.

Conclusion

Medical mycology education in southern Brazil is widespread but insufficiently structured, with significant gaps in faculty expertise, infrastructure, and curricular innovation. Targeted investment in laboratory training, faculty development, and curricular updates aligned with clinical guidelines is urgently needed to strengthen physician preparedness for managing fungal diseases.
  • Published in:Open Forum Infectious Diseases,
  • Study Type:Cross-Sectional Survey,
  • Source: PMID: 40980572, DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofaf540
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