OUR VISION A WORLD WITHOUT DEATHS FROM FUNGAL INFECTION.

Everyone needs access to diagnostic tests

Spain

Country Ambassadors –   Two ambassadors: Manuel Cuence-Estrella & Ana Alastruey-Izquierdo:

Manuel Cuenca-Estrella

Professor Manuel Cuenca-Estrella, Head of the Spanish National Center for Microbiology.

Ambassador 1 : Professor Manuel Cuence-Estrella, Head of the Spanish National Center for Microbiology. Madrid, Spain. Email: On request
 View the Fungal burden of disease in Spain: Rodriguez Tudela, Clin Microbiol Infect 2015
Personal comment on the major needs in Spain which GAFFI should be addressing:
Assessing the frequency of some fungal diseases such as chronic pulmonary aspergillosis and keratitis, without data so far
Periodical population-based surveillance of deep mycosis (candidosis, aspergillosis and emerging mycosis)
Analyzing the prevalence of fungal diseases (cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis, pneumocystosis, paracoccidioidomycosis, subcutaneous diseases…) in immigrant population largely from Africa and South-America
Some diagnostic deficiencies such as unavailability of appropriate tests in some centers
Lack of trained personnel to undertake diagnostic tests
Lack of harmonization and standardization/validation of some diagnostic tools
Lack of trained personnel to prescribe the most adequate treatments
Low prioritization of fungal infection by many healthcare organizations
 Links to key fungal/global health institutions in Spain: Asociación Española de Micología: www.aemicol.org Grupo de Estudio de Micología Médica de la Sociedad Española de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología Clínica: www.seimc.org; Revista Iberoamericana de Micología: www.reviberoammicol.com
Ana Alastruey-Izquierdo

Dr Ana Alastruey-Izquierdo, Research Scientist, National Centre for Microbiology, Madrid

Ambassador 2 : Dr Ana Alastruey-Izquierdo, Research Scientist, National Centre for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain. Email: On request
View the Fungal burden of disease in Spain Rodriguez Tudela, Clin Microbiol Infect 2015
How you have helped GAFFI I have helped in the estimation of the national burden of disease. I helped in the documentation presented to the WHO to include itraconazole in the List of Essential Medicines. I have written fungal descriptions for LIFE webpage. I have promoted GAFFI in my country through the National societies (AEM, SEM and SEIMC), social networks and media and internationally through the Young-ISHAM community. In addition I am part of the GAFFI team working in the Guatemala demonstration project.
Personal comment on the major needs in Spain which GAFFI should be addressing:
  • Periodic epidemiological studies (funded by the government, currently published studies have been funded by pharmaceutical companies)
  • Trained professionals in Medical Mycology since most microbiologists at the hospitals lack proper knowledge of fungal infections
  • More funds for research on Fungal Infections especially for translational research
  • Monitor antifungal resistance
  • Develop a network of centers with experts in medical mycology across the country to validate diagnostic tools, perform clinical trials, write consensus guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of fungal infections, etc.
  • Develop a register of proven fungal infections cases in the country
  • Develop and maintain a collection of clinical samples and fungal strains, with clinical data, to be available for the validation of new techniques
  • Develop and standardize the diagnosis and treatment of ABPA and CPA.
 Links to key fungal/global health institutions in Spain: Ministerio de Sanidad (Ministry of Health) www.sanidad.gob.es/