Addressing Research Deficiencies in Emerging Fungal Infections: Awareness is No Longer the Limiting Factor

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Fungal Disease Awareness Week reflects the historical tendency for fungal diseases to be overlooked in clinical practice, with limited funding and specialist expertise concentrated in relatively few centers.
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The WHO’s 2022 fungal priority pathogen list identified surveillance, diagnostics, and access to antifungals as major weaknesses in the evidence base.
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Severe fungal disease is associated with an estimated 3.8 million deaths each year, including about 2.5 million considered directly attributable, while case counting, laboratory capacity, and funding remain inadequate.
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Emerging fungi such as Trichophyton indotineae and Sporothrix brasiliensis illustrate changing patterns of antifungal resistance, transmission, and geographic spread.
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Candida auris can colonize skin, survive on surfaces, tolerate routine cleaning, and spread between hospitals with patients, making healthcare containment especially challenging.

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