Killer infection bid

Thursday February 23rd, 2012

A major project has been launched to tackle the menace of fungal infections - blamed for one and a half million deaths worldwide annually.

More than £5 million has been allocated by the Wellcome Trust for the project, it was announced yesterday.

The project is to look at research and training but also public awareness.

It will be led by Aberdeen University, Scotland, which has a large group of researchers dedicated to the problem.

There will be collaboration with Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands, together with scientists at Imperial College London and the Universities of Newcastle, Manchester, Birmingham, Kent and Exeter.

The researchers say Candida, Aspergillus, Pneumocystis and Cryptococcus pose the greatest threat to human health.

Microbiologist Professor Neil Gow said: "People are very familiar with superficial fungal infections, such as ringworm and athlete’s foot, which affect approximately a quarter of the world’s population and are usually easily treated. 

“Fungal infections of the mouth and genitals are also common – thrush is estimated to affect 75 million women each year while oral infections are common in babies and denture wearers. Again these can be treated relatively easily in healthy patients. 

“However invasive fungal infections - infections in the major organs of the body - are associated with high mortality rates. 

“Immunocompromised patients, such as cancer, trauma and HIV patients; and people who have undergone bone and organ transplants, are more susceptible to fungal infection.

“New strategies are desperately required to combat these life-threatening fungal infections.”

Tags: Europe | General Health | UK News | World Health

Printer friendly page