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Al Dhaheri F, Thomsen J, Everett D, Denning DW. Mapping the Burden of Fungal Diseases in the United Arab Emirates. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:353. [PMID: 38786708 PMCID: PMC11121979 DOI: 10.3390/jof10050353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The United Arab Emirates has very little data on the incidence or prevalence of fungal diseases. Using total and underlying disease risk populations and likely affected proportions, we have modelled the burden of fungal disease for the first time. The most prevalent serious fungal conditions are recurrent vulvovaginitis (~190,000 affected) and fungal asthma (~34,000 affected). Given the UAE's low prevalence of HIV, we estimate an at-risk population of 204 with respect to serious fungal infections with cryptococcal meningitis estimated at 2 cases annually, 15 cases of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) annually, and 20 cases of esophageal candidiasis in the HIV population. PCP incidence in non-HIV patients is estimated at 150 cases annually. Likewise, with the same low prevalence of tuberculosis in the country, we estimate a total chronic pulmonary aspergillosis prevalence of 1002 cases. The estimated annual incidence of invasive aspergillosis is 505 patients, based on local data on rates of malignancy, solid organ transplantation, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (5.9 per 100,000). Based on the 2022 annual report of the UAE's national surveillance database, candidaemia annual incidence is 1090 (11.8/100,000), of which 49.2% occurs in intensive care. Fungal diseases affect ~228,695 (2.46%) of the population in the UAE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatima Al Dhaheri
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Jens Thomsen
- Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 127788, United Arab Emirates; (J.T.); (D.E.)
| | - Dean Everett
- Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 127788, United Arab Emirates; (J.T.); (D.E.)
- Infection Research Unit, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 127788, United Arab Emirates
| | - David W. Denning
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Grafton Street, Manchester M13 9NT, UK
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AlMaghrabi RS, Al-Musawi T, Albaksami O, Subhi AL, Fakih RE, Stone NR. Challenges in the Management of Invasive Fungal Infections in the Middle East: Expert Opinion to Optimize Management Using a Multidisciplinary Approach. Cureus 2023; 15:e44356. [PMID: 37779746 PMCID: PMC10539715 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.44356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Invasive fungal infection (IFI) is a significant global healthcare concern among critically ill and immunocompromised patients. In Middle Eastern countries, IFI has been steadily increasing among hospitalized patients in the past two decades. Diagnosis of IFI at an early stage is crucial for efficient management. Invasive fungal infection management is complex and requires the involvement of physicians from different specialties. There are several challenges associated with IFI management in the countries in the Middle East. This review aims to understand the key challenges associated with IFI management in the Middle East, encompassing epidemiology, diagnosis, therapeutic options, and optimizing a multidisciplinary approach. In addition, this review aims to incorporate expert opinions from multidisciplinary fields for optimizing IFI management in different Middle Eastern countries by addressing key decision points throughout the patient's journey. Lack of epidemiological data on fungal infections, slow and poorly sensitive conventional culture-based diagnostic tests, limited availability of biomarker testing, lack of awareness of clinical symptoms of the disease, limited knowledge on fungal infections, lack of local practice guidelines, and complicated disease management are the major challenges associated with IFI diagnosis and management in the Middle Eastern countries. Implementation of a multidisciplinary approach, antifungal stewardship, improved knowledge of fungal infections, the use of rapid diagnostic tests, and enhanced epidemiological research are warranted to lower the IFI burden in the Middle East.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reem S AlMaghrabi
- Department of Medicine, Organ Transplant Center, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, SAU
| | - Tariq Al-Musawi
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Al Salam Hospital, Al-Khobar, SAU
- Department of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Bahrain, Busaiteen, BHR
| | - Osama Albaksami
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Infectious Disease Hospital, Kuwait City, KWT
| | - Ahmad L Subhi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Al-Qassimi Hospital, Sharjah, ARE
| | - Riad E Fakih
- Department of Hematology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, SAU
- Department of Clinical Research, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, SAU
| | - Neil R Stone
- Department of Microbiology, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, London, GBR
- Department of Microbiology, University College London Hospitals, London, GBR
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Islam MR, Rahman MM, Ahasan MT, Sarkar N, Akash S, Islam M, Islam F, Aktar MN, Saeed M, Harun-Or-Rashid M, Hosain MK, Rahaman MS, Afroz S, Bibi S, Rahman MH, Sweilam SH. The impact of mucormycosis (black fungus) on SARS-CoV-2-infected patients: at a glance. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:69341-69366. [PMID: 35986111 PMCID: PMC9391068 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-22204-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of various diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic made health workers more attentive, and one of the new pathogens is the black fungus (mucormycosis). As a result, millions of lives have already been lost. As a result of the mutation, the virus is constantly changing its traits, including the rate of disease transmission, virulence, pathogenesis, and clinical signs. A recent analysis revealed that some COVID-19 patients were also coinfected with a fungal disease called mucormycosis (black fungus). India has already categorized the COVID-19 patient black fungus outbreak as an epidemic. Only a few reports are observed in other countries. The immune system is weakened by COVID-19 medication, rendering it more prone to illnesses like black fungus (mucormycosis). COVID-19, which is caused by a B.1.617 strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has been circulating in India since April 2021. Mucormycosis is a rare fungal infection induced by exposure to a fungus called mucormycete. The most typically implicated genera are Mucor rhyzuprhizopusdia and Cunninghamella. Mucormycosis is also known as zygomycosis. The main causes of infection are soil, dumping sites, ancient building walls, and other sources of infection (reservoir words "mucormycosis" and "zygomycosis" are occasionally interchanged). Zygomycota, on the other hand, has been identified as polyphyletic and is not currently included in fungal classification systems; also, zygomycosis includes Entomophthorales, but mucormycosis does not. This current review will be focused on the etiology and virulence factors of COVID-19/mucormycosis coinfections in COVID-19-associated mucormycosis patients, as well as their prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md. Rezaul Islam
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, 1207 Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Mominur Rahman
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, 1207 Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Tanjimul Ahasan
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, 1207 Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Nadia Sarkar
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, 1207 Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Shopnil Akash
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, 1207 Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mahfuzul Islam
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, 1207 Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Fahadul Islam
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, 1207 Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Most. Nazmin Aktar
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, 1207 Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mohd Saeed
- Department of Biology, College of Sciences, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia
| | - Md. Harun-Or-Rashid
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, 1207 Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Kawsar Hosain
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, 1207 Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Saidur Rahaman
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, 1207 Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Sadia Afroz
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, 1207 Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Shabana Bibi
- Department of Biosciences, Shifa Tameer-E-Millat University, Islamabad, Pakistan
- Yunnan Herbal Laboratory, College of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091 China
| | - Md. Habibur Rahman
- Department of Pharmacy, Southeast University, Banani, Dhaka 1213 Bangladesh
- Department of Global Medical Science, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, 26426 Korea
| | - Sherouk Hussein Sweilam
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, 11942 Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Egyptian Russian University, Cairo-Suez Road, Badr City, 11829 Egypt
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