Title
Current situation of endemic mycosis in the Americas and the Caribbean: Proceedings of the first international meeting on endemic mycoses of the Americas (IMEMA)
Date Issued
01 January 2022
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Caceres D.H.
Echeverri Tirado L.C.
Bonifaz A.
Adenis A.
Gomez B.L.
Flores, Claudia Lizette Banda
Canteros C.E.
Santos D.W.
Arathoon E.
Soto E.R.
Queiroz-Telles F.
Schwartz I.S.
Zurita J.
Damasceno L.S.
Garcia N.
Fernandez N.B.
Araujo P.
Rabagliati R.
Chiller T.
Giusiano G.
Publisher(s)
John Wiley and Sons Inc
Abstract
Background: The Americas are home to biologically and clinically diverse endemic fungi, including Blastomyces, Coccidioides, Emergomyces, Histoplasma, Paracoccidioides and Sporothrix. In endemic areas with high risk of infection, these fungal pathogens represent an important public health problem. Objectives: This report aims to summarise the main findings of the regional analysis carried out on the status of the endemic mycoses of the Americas, done at the first International Meeting on Endemic Mycoses of the Americas (IMEMA). Methods: A regional analysis for the Americas was done, the 27 territories were grouped into nine regions. A SWOT analysis was done. Results: All territories reported availability of microscopy. Seventy percent of territories reported antibody testing, 67% of territories reported availability of Histoplasma antigen testing. None of the territories reported the use of (1–3)-β-d-glucan. Fifty two percent of territories reported the availability of PCR testing in reference centres (mostly for histoplasmosis). Most of the territories reported access to medications such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, itraconazole, voriconazole and amphotericin B (AMB) deoxycholate. Many countries had limited access to liposomal formulation of AMB and newer azoles, such as posaconazole and isavuconazole. Surveillance of these fungal diseases was minimal. Conclusions: A consensus emerged among meeting participants, this group concluded that endemic mycoses are neglected diseases, and due to their severity and lack of resources, the improvement of diagnosis, treatment and surveillance is needed.
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Biología celular, Microbiología Micología
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85135962265
Source
Mycoses
ISSN of the container
09337407
Sponsor(s)
We want to thank the institutional endorsements of Argentine Association of Microbiology (in Spanish, Asociación Argentina de Microbiología, AAM), American Society for Microbiology (ASM), Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero (UNSE), Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL), Universidad Nacional del Nordeste (UNNE), Instituto de Medicina Regional (UNNE), Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) and Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud “Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán” (ANLIS). This meeting was supported by AAM, ANLIS, PAHO/WHO, the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology (ISHAM), Mycoses Study Group, Education & Research Consortium (MSG ERC), IMMY and the ASM.
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus