Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) released its first-ever list of fungal “priority pathogens.”
19 fungi that have emerged as significant public health threats were identified. These fungi have been identified because of their ability to cause severe invasive infections and their growing resistance to antifungal drugs.
Some of the fungi included on the list are Cryptococcus neoformans, Candida auris, Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, Nakaseomyces glabrata (Candida glabrata), Histoplasma spp.
WHO officials say emerging evidence suggests the incidence and geographic range of fungal diseases are expanding due to climate change and increased global travel.
The population most at risk from invasive infections caused by these pathogens—including cancer patients, people with HIV/AIDS, organ transplant recipients, and other immunocompromised patients—is growing.
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