1
|
Oladele RO, Osaigbovo II, Ayanlowo OO, Otu AA, Hoenigl M, Cornely OA, Chakrabarti A, Denning DW. The role of medical mycology societies in combating invasive fungal infections in low- and middle-income countries: A Nigerian model. Mycoses 2018; 62:16-21. [PMID: 30184285 DOI: 10.1111/myc.12845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Revised: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 08/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The discipline of medical mycology has become increasingly relevant in the face of the rising incidence of invasive fungal infections (IFI), which pose diagnostic and therapeutic challenges for contemporary medical practice. While firmly established in developed countries, medical mycology remains obscure in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). With a teeming vulnerable populace and an incidence rate of 11.8%, Nigeria has one of the highest estimated burdens of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) in the world. Regardless, the scourge of IFIs has remained silent due to a combination of factors principal amongst which are a lack of awareness and dearth in personnel skilled in diagnosis. The present narrative examines the status of medical mycology practice in Nigeria and chronicles the journey to change the status quo spurred by the Leading International Fungal Education (LIFE)-facilitated burden estimate paper and culminating in the birth of the Medical Mycology Society of Nigeria (MMSN), the pioneer national medical mycology society in Africa. The prospects of tackling the IFI challenge are highlighted from the perspective of the nascent society.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rita O Oladele
- Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.,Global Action Fund for Fungal Infections, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Iriagbonse I Osaigbovo
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria
| | - Olusola O Ayanlowo
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Akaninyene A Otu
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.,National Aspergillosis Centre, Manchester Foundation University Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Martin Hoenigl
- Section of Infectious Diseases & Division of Pulmonology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.,Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California
| | - Oliver A Cornely
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Clinical Trials Centre Cologne (ZKS Köln), German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Cologne-Bonn, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Arunaloke Chakrabarti
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - David W Denning
- Global Action Fund for Fungal Infections, Geneva, Switzerland.,National Aspergillosis Centre, Manchester Foundation University Trust, Manchester, UK
| |
Collapse
|