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Ocansey BK, Dadzie EA, Eduful SK, Agyei M, Osei MM, Puplampu P, Asamoah I, Oladele RO, Osaigbovo II, Afriyie-Mensah J, Opintan JA, Essien-Baidoo S, Chakrabarti A, Hoenigl M, Denning DW, Richardson MD. Improving Awareness, Diagnosis and Management of Invasive Fungal Infections in Ghana: Establishment of the Ghana Medical Mycology Society. Med Mycol 2022; 60:6694000. [PMID: 36073757 PMCID: PMC9521337 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myac069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) and medical mycology receive little attention in Ghana. However, the present evolution of biomarker assays for IFIs, offers an opportunity for an increased access to fungal laboratory testing in resource-limited settings, and probably make a case for availability of essential antifungal agents. Using surveys and personal communications, the state of medical mycology and IFI in Ghana were highlighted. Inadequate awareness and insufficient access to fungal diagnostics and therapeutics were identified as the key challenges, the establishment of the Ghana Medical Mycology Society was discussed, and recommendations were made to improve the status quo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bright K Ocansey
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Edmund A Dadzie
- Department of Health and Allied Sciences, Baldwin University College, Accra, Ghana
| | - Stephen K Eduful
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Martin Agyei
- Department of Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Mary-Magdalene Osei
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra, Ghana
| | - Peter Puplampu
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra, Ghana.,Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana
| | - Isabella Asamoah
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana
| | - Rita O Oladele
- Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Iriagbonse I Osaigbovo
- Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria
| | - Jane Afriyie-Mensah
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra, Ghana.,Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana
| | - Japheth A Opintan
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra, Ghana
| | - Samuel Essien-Baidoo
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Arunaloke Chakrabarti
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Martin Hoenigl
- Section of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Division of Pulmonology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.,Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
| | - David W Denning
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Malcolm D Richardson
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,Mycology Reference Centre, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
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Osaigbovo II, Bongomin F. Point of care tests for invasive fungal infections: a blueprint for increasing availability in Africa. Ther Adv Infect Dis 2021; 8:20499361211034266. [PMID: 34422265 PMCID: PMC8371725 DOI: 10.1177/20499361211034266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) such as cryptococcosis, disseminated histoplasmosis, and chronic pulmonary aspergillosis are significant causes of morbidity and mortality in Africa. Lack of laboratory infrastructure and laboratory personnel trained in diagnostic mycology hamper prompt detection and management of IFIs on the continent. Point-of-care tests (POCT) obviate the need for complex infrastructure, skilled technicians, and stable electricity and have had major impacts on the diagnosis of bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections in low- and middle-income countries. Over the last 10 years, POCTs for IFIs have become increasingly available and they have the potential to revolutionize the management of these infections if scaled up in Africa. At the beginning of 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) Essential Diagnostic List (EDL) included a cryptococcal antigen test for the diagnosis of cryptococcosis, Histoplasma antigen test for the diagnosis of disseminated histoplasmosis, and Aspergillus-specific test for the diagnosis of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis. All of these are available in formats that may be used as POCTs and it is hoped that this will improve the diagnosis of these life-threatening IFIs, especially in low- and middle-income countries. This perspective review discusses commercially available POCTs and outlines strategies of a blueprint to achieve their roll-out in Africa. The strategies include raising awareness, conducting research that uncovers the exact burden of IFIs, increasing advocacy, integrating diagnosis of IFIs into existing public health programs, adoption of the WHO EDL at country levels, and improving logistics and supply chains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iriagbonse Iyabo Osaigbovo
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria, Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria
| | - Felix Bongomin
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, Gulu, Uganda
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Otu A, Oladele RO, Orefuwa E. Closing the knowledge gap in mycology in Nigeria by leveraging e-learning: perspectives from the field. Ther Adv Infect Dis 2021; 8:20499361211021689. [PMID: 34262757 PMCID: PMC8252345 DOI: 10.1177/20499361211021689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Akaninyene Otu
- Department of Infection and Travel Medicine, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK
| | - Rita O Oladele
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Emma Orefuwa
- Global Action Fund for Fungal Infections, Geneva, Switzerland
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Antimicrobial Importance of Medicinal Plants in Nigeria. ScientificWorldJournal 2020; 2020:7059323. [PMID: 33029108 PMCID: PMC7528132 DOI: 10.1155/2020/7059323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the success of antibiotic discovery, infectious diseases remain the second leading source of death worldwide, while the resistance to antibiotics is among the significant problems in the twenty-first century. Medicinal plants are very rich in phytochemicals which can be structurally optimized and processed into new drugs. Nigeria enjoys a diverse collection of medicinal plants, and joint research has ascertained the efficacy of these plants. Plants such as guava (Psidium guajava), ginger (Zingiber officinale), neem (Azadirachta indica), and moringa (Moringa oleifera) have been found to exhibit broad range of antimicrobial activities. Studies on Nigerian plants have shown that they contain alkaloids, polyphenols, terpenes, glycosides, and others with possible therapeutic potentials. The antimicrobial activities of some new compounds such as alloeudesmenol, hanocokinoside, orosunol, and 8-demethylorosunol, identified from medicinal plants in Nigeria, are not yet explored. Further investigation and optimization of these compounds will facilitate the development of new sets of pharmacologically acceptable antimicrobial agents. This review study revealed the efficacy of medicinal plants as an alternative therapy in combating and curtailing the development and survival of multidrug-resistant pathogens coupled with the toxic effects of some antibiotics. Due to enormous therapeutic possibilities buried in medicinal plants, there is a need for more research into unique fingerprints and novel compounds that can provide cure to the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) of humans and animals facing Africa, especially Nigeria.
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