Overcoming clinical challenges in the management of invasive fungal infections in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).
Arunaloke ChakrabartiAtul K PatelRajeev SomanSubhash TodiPublished in: Expert review of anti-infective therapy (2023)
The strategies to overcome the challenges in diagnosis may include local epidemiology study, training of healthcare workers, association of fungal infections with already existing budgeted national programs, development and incorporation of point-of-care test (POCT) for prompt diagnosis, simplifying clinical diagnostic criteria suitable for LMIC, judicious use of available expertise, and diagnostic stewardship. For management strategies judicious use of antifungal, partnering with industry for inexpensive antifungal agents, development of LMIC specific guidelines for cost-effective management of IFIs and fungal outbreaks, improvement of infection control practices, advocacy for implementation of WHO recommended antifungal use, and integration of IFIs with public health.