Surveillance systems

Bridging gaps in the elimination of deep mycoses: a comparative analysis of mycetoma and chromoblastomycosis control strategies in Rwanda and China

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Mycetoma and chromoblastomycosis are serious fungal infections that primarily affect poor communities in tropical regions, causing permanent disability and limb loss. This review compares how China and Rwanda are tackling these diseases, finding that China has advanced laboratories and testing methods while Rwanda excels at reaching rural communities. The study recommends that both countries work together, combining China’s advanced diagnostic technology with Rwanda’s successful community health approach to better control these neglected diseases.

Addressing Critical Fungal Pathogens Under a One Health Perspective: Key Insights from the Portuguese Association of Medical Mycology

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Four dangerous fungal species pose growing threats to human health worldwide, especially for people with weakened immune systems. Portugal’s medical experts have reviewed the current situation, finding these fungi increasingly resistant to treatment, present in hospitals and the environment, and occasionally spreading from animals to people. The review emphasizes the need for better testing, coordinated tracking systems, and approaches that consider human, animal, and environmental health together to combat this emerging crisis.

Antifungal Policy and Practice Across Five Countries: A Qualitative Review

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This study examined how five countries (Netherlands, Italy, South Korea, China, and India) manage invasive fungal infections through national policies. Researchers found that while all countries have some policies in place, there are significant gaps in diagnosis access, treatment availability, and healthcare professional training. The findings highlight the urgent need for stronger, more comprehensive policies to help patients suffering from serious fungal infections.

Antifungal Policy and Practice Across Five Countries: A Qualitative Review

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This study examines how well five different countries handle invasive fungal infections through their healthcare policies and systems. Researchers found that while these infections affect millions of people globally, most countries lack comprehensive policies to diagnose, treat, and manage them effectively. Major issues include inadequate healthcare provider training, limited access to rapid diagnostic tests, and insufficient antifungal medications in some regions. The study recommends that countries develop better national strategies for preventing, diagnosing, and treating these serious infections.

Antifungal Agents in the 21st Century: Advances, Challenges, and Future Perspectives

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This review examines how doctors treat serious fungal infections and the growing problem of fungi becoming resistant to medications. The authors discuss different antifungal drugs, how they work, and why some fungi are becoming harder to treat. They emphasize that controlling fungal resistance requires coordinated efforts across hospitals, farms, and communities, especially since some agricultural pesticides are creating resistant strains that spread to sick patients.

China’s innovative national plan to combat fungal diseases and antifungal resistance

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China has created a comprehensive national system to fight fungal infections and drug resistance. The system monitors fungal diseases across hundreds of hospitals throughout the country to track which infections are most common and which antifungal medicines are becoming less effective. Early findings show that many hospitals lack proper facilities for testing fungal infections, and some fungi are developing resistance to commonly used antifungal drugs, particularly fluconazole.

A prospective, multicenter study of invasive fungal disease caused by molds in children and adults in Chile

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Researchers in Chile studied serious mold infections in 176 hospitalized patients (adults and children) over two years. They found that aspergillosis (a lung infection caused by Aspergillus mold) was the most common, especially in patients whose immune systems were compromised by cancer, transplants, or medications. Interestingly, nearly 40% of cases also involved COVID-19 infection. Although almost all patients received antifungal medications, survival rates were concerning, with about one-third of patients still alive after six months.

China’s innovative national plan to combat fungal diseases and antifungal resistance

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China has launched an ambitious national program to combat fungal diseases through a network of 868 hospitals across the country. Studies found that fungal infections are more common than previously thought, with concerning rates of drug resistance. The country is implementing surveillance systems, training healthcare workers, and carefully managing antifungal drug use to prevent further resistance development while improving patient outcomes.

Pan-Indian Clinical Registry of Invasive Fungal Infections Among Patients in the Intensive Care Unit: Protocol for a Multicentric Prospective Study

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Fungal infections are a serious hidden threat in hospital intensive care units, particularly for patients with weakened immune systems. This study establishes India’s first comprehensive database system to track fungal infections across 8 major medical centers nationwide. By collecting detailed information about these infections and how they respond to treatments, the research aims to help doctors diagnose and treat fungal infections faster and more effectively. The findings will guide better clinical practices and public health policies to combat these often-neglected but deadly infections.

Research Keyword: Surveillance systems