Global health experts meet to improve management of fungal infections

Delegates highlighted the lack of diagnostics and access to treatments

In Seattle, over 60 experts from major health agencies, including the World Health Organisation, UNAIDS, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Clinton Health Access Initiative, Office for Global AIDS Coordination, Centers for Disease Control The Global Fund – and representatives from over 30 countries –– gathered to align on efforts to improve management of fungal infections.

Delegates highlighted the lack of diagnostics and access to treatments, including the oldest antifungal drugs, as major hurdles to improvements in many developing countries.

A key output of the meeting based on a preliminary model created to analyse the costs associated with treatment and care of fungal infections in Africa, showed that early screening and treatment, before meningitis or pneumonia develop, is cost effective. Reportedly, if implemented, this regimen could potentially save nearly $500 million and up to 140,000 lives annually compared with later treatment.

GAFFI President and Professor of Infectious Diseases in Global Health at the University of Manchester, Dr David Denning commented, “The toll due to fungal diseases is over one billion people, yet these diseases are poorly represented by most global health organisations and national public health bodies. Burdens vary by geography, country, co-infections, hospital hygiene and agricultural practices. Even though the global antifungal pharmaceutical market is about $8 billion and growing at two to three per cent annually, there are a limited number of useful antifungals.”

“Discussions covered so many of the gritty problems facing patients unlucky enough to develop a serious fungal infection. From lack of doctor knowledge, slow or non-existent diagnostics to costly or unavailable generic antifungals, everything was discussed. The time for action and joined up thinking among AIDS and TB policy makers is here,” he added.

Stakeholders jointly committed more action. “Serious attention, study and efforts are needed, more should be done,” said Dr Swarup Sarkar from UNAIDS.

EH News Bureau