The role of medical mycology societies in combating invasive fungal infections in low‐ and middle‐income countries: A Nigerian model

Summary 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 r...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Mycoses 2019-01, Vol.62 (1), p.16-21
Main Authors: Oladele, Rita O., Osaigbovo, Iriagbonse I., Ayanlowo, Olusola O., Otu, Akaninyene A., Hoenigl, Martin, Cornely, Oliver A., Chakrabarti, Arunaloke, Denning, David W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Developing Countries
Diagnostic Tests, Routine - methods
diagnostics
Disease Transmission, Infectious - prevention & control
Fungal infections
Humans
Incidence
Infection Control - methods
Infection Control - organization & administration
invasive fungal infections
Invasive Fungal Infections - diagnosis
Invasive Fungal Infections - epidemiology
Invasive Fungal Infections - prevention & control
low‐ and medium‐income countries
medical education
Medical personnel
medical societies
Microbiological Techniques - methods
Nigeria
Nigeria - epidemiology
Societies, Scientific
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Summary:Summary 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.
ISSN:0933-7407
1439-0507
DOI:10.1111/myc.12845