GLASS-FUNGI

Recognizing the growing threat of resistant fungal infections, GLASS started a global collaborative effort to compile available data on these infections. Although less known to the general public, fungi are major causes of human disease and death and resistance to antifungal medications is a growing problem, similar to antibiotic drugs. One of the major limitations in addressing the threat of antifungal-resistant fungi is a lack of data at the global level.

Few countries have effective surveillance for fungal diseases. Consequently, data on their incidence, resistance and public health impact are limited. In view of the broad spectrum of invasive antifungal- resistant infections, work will initially focus on invasive fungal bloodstream infections caused by Candida spp., the most common type of invasive fungal disease. Multidrug-resistant Candida species, including C. auris, have emerged as the causative agent of many health care-associated infections and associated with outbreaks.

The GLASS early implementation protocol for the inclusion of Candida spp. was developed to support countries to strengthen or build their national fungal AMR surveillance and enable the incorporation of AMR surveillance for invasive Candida infections into GLASS. The protocol describes the objectives and methodology and provides details of the proposed approach and defined targets for the surveillance of resistance in Candida bloodstream infection. Using the evidence collected during early implementation and lessons learnt, the protocol will be finalized, and the Candida spp. resistance surveillance component will be fully incorporated into GLASS.