Bacteria and viruses are not the only pathogenic agents we need to worry about.
According to recent warnings from several researchers, fungal infections are surpassing the limits of modern medicine and pose a risk of causing a “silent pandemic” that requires urgent attention.
A pandemic caused by fungal infections may be approaching (Image source: Getty).
Norman van Rhijn, a molecular biologist at the University of Manchester (UK), stated: “The threat from fungal pathogens is increasing but is being overlooked in discussions.”
According to this expert, without urgent attention and action, some particularly dangerous fungal infections, which already infect 6.5 million people and claim 3.8 million lives annually, could become even more hazardous.
“The excessive focus on bacteria is concerning,” emphasized Norman van Rhijn and his colleagues.
“Because that is when we neglect invasive fungal diseases, particularly many of which are not fully recognized by the community and the government.”
Compared to bacteria or viruses, fungi are more complex organisms, as they share structural similarities with animals.
This complexity makes it more challenging and costly for scientists to develop drugs that can kill fungal cells without harming other vital cells in the body.
Aspergillus fumigatus fungal infection is often very difficult to treat (Image: Science Alert).
Even when these drugs are finally released after many years of development and clinical trials, they still face challenges due to the agricultural chemical industry having developed fungicides with similar mechanisms of action.
Researchers state that this leads to a state of “cross-resistance” to the most dangerous fungal pathogens, making them even more perilous.
“Fungicides are necessary for food security. But there must be a balance between food security and the ability to treat drug-resistant fungal pathogens,” the research team noted.
In 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) published a list of priority fungal pathogens. This is seen as the first global effort to systematically prioritize fungal pathogens.
At the top of the list of fungi considered most dangerous to human health is Aspergillus fumigatus, which originates from mold and causes respiratory infections.
Following closely are Candida (causing infections), Nakaseomyces glabratus (causing urinary or bloodstream infections), and Trichophyton indotineae (causing skin, hair, and nail infections).
Among these, older adults or those with weakened immune systems are at the highest risk from these fungi.
