Antifungal Drug Resistance.

Area of Science:

• Mycology
• Antimicrobial Resistance
• Public Health

Background:

• Fungal infections represent a significant threat to public health and food security worldwide.
• Rising antifungal drug and fungicide resistance, coupled with climate change, is escalating this threat.
• Emerging pathogenic fungi and shifting at-risk populations compound the global crisis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the primary mechanisms driving antifungal drug and fungicide resistance.
• To explore novel antifungal drugs and their modes of action.
• To identify future strategies for risk reduction in antifungal resistance.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of antifungal resistance mechanisms.
• Analysis of emerging antifungal drug classes and their applications.
• Synthesis of One Health principles and surveillance strategies.

Main Results:

• Identified key mechanisms of antifungal and fungicide resistance.
• Highlighted novel drug classes and their potential impact.
• Emphasized the critical need for integrated One Health approaches and surveillance.

Conclusions:

• Integrating One Health and robust surveillance is essential for managing antifungal resistance.
• Global collaboration among diverse stakeholders is crucial to combat rising resistance trends.
• A unified antifungal stewardship plan, developed through collaboration between medical and plant mycologists, is vital.