Disease: pneumocystis infection

Advances in Fungal Infection Research: From Novel Diagnostics to Innovative Therapeutics

Fungal infections are becoming increasingly serious, especially for people with weakened immune systems, and some fungi are developing resistance to current medications. Researchers are developing faster diagnostic tests using molecular techniques and exploring new treatment approaches including repurposing existing drugs and developing vaccines. Monitoring and prevention programs in hospitals are essential to control the spread of these infections and improve patient outcomes.

Read More »

Detection of Mucorales antigen in bronchoalveolar lavage samples using a newly developed lateral-flow device

Researchers tested a new rapid test device that detects a specific protein released by dangerous mold infections (mucormycosis) in patient respiratory samples. The test uses a special antibody to identify these molds quickly, which is important because mucormycosis can be life-threatening and requires fast treatment. The device showed promise with about 77% accuracy in identifying infections, though larger studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Read More »

Quality improvement project to reduce beta-D-glucan turnaround times in an NHS pathology network

Hospitals were taking too long to get results for a fungal blood test (beta-D-glucan) that helps doctors decide whether patients with serious infections need antifungal medicines. A UK hospital pathology network improved this by bringing the test in-house instead of sending samples to a distant reference laboratory. After implementing the new system, they cut the average wait time from over 11 days to just 2.5 days while also saving money, allowing doctors to make faster treatment decisions for critically ill patients.

Read More »

Advances in Fungal Infection Research: From Novel Diagnostics to Innovative Therapeutics

This editorial discusses the growing challenge of fungal infections worldwide, which disproportionately affect people with weakened immune systems. New diagnostic tools using molecular testing can now quickly identify fungal infections, while researchers are developing novel treatments including repurposed drugs and immune-boosting therapies. The article emphasizes that coordinated efforts among doctors, scientists, and public health officials are essential to combat rising antifungal resistance and improve patient outcomes.

Read More »
Scroll to Top