What question did this study set out to answer?

The research aims to understand the increasing incidence of drug-resistant fungal infections and the associated risks.

April 23, 2026Open Access

The race to beat deadly, drug-resistant fungal diseases

Key Points

The research aims to understand the increasing incidence of drug-resistant fungal infections and the associated risks.
Analysis of drug-resistant fungal infection trends
Review of existing antifungal treatments
Assessment of vulnerable populations
Drug-resistant fungal infections are on the rise, leading to an estimated 200,000 life-threatening cases annually in the UK.
Around 2.5 million deaths each year are attributed to fungal diseases.
Vulnerable populations are increasing due to factors like cancer treatment and chronic diseases.

Abstract

The race to beat deadly, drug-resistant fungal diseases Professors Elaine Bignell and Neil A.R. Gow address the growing threat of fungal infections, highlighting the sharp rise in drug-resistant cases, and the required efforts to better understand and mitigate fAMR. Fungi are agents of mass crop destruction, but also cause around 2.5 million human deaths annually. (1) The vulnerable population is rapidly growing, driven by cancer treatment, chronic respiratory disease, emerging new pathogens and increasing disease caused by fungi resistant to the few available classes of antifungal drugs. In December 2025, the UK Chief Medical Officer’s report highlighted the fungal threat, estimating nearly 200,000 life-threatening fungal cases per year.

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