Advancements in Artificial Intelligence-Based Diagnostic Tools Used to Detect Fungal Infections: A Systematic Review

Background: Fungal infections are considered a global health concern, resulting in high morbidity and mortality rates, especially in immunocompromised individuals. Traditional diagnostic techniques, such as microscopy, culture, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), suffer from low sensitivity, long processing time, and accessibility challenges, especially in resource-limited settings. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) tools have demonstrated potential to enhance diagnostic accuracy and efficiency. This systematic study assesses the progress, precision, and efficacy of AI-driven diagnostic tools for fungal infections within various clinical contexts in comparison to traditional procedures. Methods: A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA principles. Literature searches were conducted in PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Ovid, focusing on research employing AI models to diagnose fungal infections. The inclusion criteria were research that compared AI-based tools with conventional diagnostic methods in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. Data extraction and quality evaluation were performed utilizing validated instruments, such as the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS). Results: Eleven research studies met the inclusion criteria: six retrospective and five prospective investigations. AI models, such as convolutional neural networks (CNNs), Faster R-CNN, VGG19, and MobileNet, have improved diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity compared to traditional methods. However, differences in dataset quality, model validation, and real-world applicability remain as limitations. Conclusions: AI-driven diagnostic technologies provide significant benefits in identifying fungal infections, improving the speed and accuracy of diagnoses. However, additional extensive investigations and clinical validation are required to improve model generalizability and facilitate smooth incorporation into healthcare systems.