OUR VISION A WORLD WITHOUT DEATHS FROM FUNGAL INFECTION.

News

Keep up to date with the latest news items from GAFFI.

Limited availability of generic antifungals across the world

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In a global analysis, GAFFI has identified major gaps in antifungal drug provision for common fungal infections. From multiple sources—most directly from individual countries—it shows flucytosine availability in 24% (map), amphotericin B deoxycholate in 49% (map), itraconazole in 93% (map) and fluconazole in 98% (map) of countries (including PEPFAR provision). No vital antifungals are available… Read more »

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Burden of serious fungal diseases presented at ECCMID for Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Vietnam, Ukraine, Iraq & Qatar

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The burden serious fungal disease from 6 European countries, Vietnam, Iraq and Qatar covering a total of 340 million people, has been presented at the ECCMID conference in Barcelona on May 10-13th 2014. The estimate from Vietnam is the first SE Asian country to be modelled. Notably different from other countries include high rates of Candida… Read more »

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Expectorated sputum valid for PCP diagnostic testing in HIV and TB patients

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Pneumocystis jirovecii causes Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) infections with an estimated 200,000-400,000 cases worldwide annually. The disease particularly affects patients with HIV/AIDS, undergoing transplants or with tuberculosis. The current gold standard for PCP diagnostics requires either bronchoscopy or induced sputum, both of which carry potentially serious medical consequences as the procedure involves the use of bronchodilators…. Read more »

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Scientists succeed in mapping the Genome of the Garden Gnome but is it too late for the UK’s Gnome colonies?

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Scientists have announced that after years of research, they have managed to decode the Genome of the common Garden Gnome. The announcement coincides with a warning that a deadly fungus which lurks in compost heaps and flourishes in damp conditions could wipe out this entire endangered species by 2020 unless governments act to stem the… Read more »

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Global Tuberculosis and aspergillosis – submission to UK All Party Parliamentary Group

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Do some of the millions of smear negative ‘TB’ patients actually have TB at all? Drs Page and Denning have submitted evidence submitted to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Global Tuberculosis (APPG-TB), UK addressing this uncertainty. Data from multiple sources suggests 15-20% of these patients may have chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA). Many smear negative… Read more »

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Bipolaris hawaiiensis endophthalmitis from eye injection with contaminated steroids

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Seventeen cases of fungal endophthalmitis occurred after intravitreal injection of triamcinolone sourced from a single lot prepared by a compounding pharmacy in California. All were infected with Bipolaris hawaiiensis, a common plant pathogen and an uncommon human pathogen. In a retrospective analysis- fungal endophthalmitis developed in 82% (14/17) of eyes after intravitreal triamcinolone obtained from the same… Read more »

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Open source lab IT system spreads its wings across Africa

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The C4G BLIS diagnostic lab software has now been adopted by 27 hospitals across sub-Sarahan Africa. Most usage is in Ghana, with multiple labs in Cameroon, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and the DRC also using the customisable and simple to use system. C4G BLIS is a free, open-source laboratory management system, designed to be ultra-configurable to… Read more »

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Resistance (AMR) in Candida glabrata reaching epic proportions

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Chinese researchers this month report a 14% rate of caspofungin resistance in Candida glabrata, an organism that is also fluconazole resistant. In 67 intensive care units in China, 389 isolates of Candida from 244 patients were susceptibility testing using CLSI M27-A3 methodology.  50 isolates were C. glabrata and over 50% had fluconazole MICs of >… Read more »

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Study confirms that Mycology research in UK is badly underfunded

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The first study to present detailed, systematically collected data and rigorously quantify funding, related to mycology research investments made to UK institutions from 1997-2010, has just been published in the BMJ Open Journal by  Head et al. The results highlight clear gaps in the UK research portfolio and illustrate some priority areas for funders and… Read more »

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GAFFI launch in Delhi

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GAFFI was launched in India at the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) on January 8th 2014. India probably has the largest burden of fungal disease in the world. Dr V M Katoch, Secretary, Department of Health Research & Director General, ICMR, Dr Rashmi Arora, Deputy Director, ICMR and GAFFI Advisor Professor Arunaloke Chakrabarti, explained… Read more »

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