Aspergillus fumigatus grown in soil. Photo by Dr. David Midgley/Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aspergillus_fumigatus.jpg
British researchers warn of a new health risk: A drug-resistant mold that infects some people’s lungs is found in the environment.
People with compromised immune systems or lung conditions can be infected by Aspergillus fumigatus. AspergillosisThe condition, which affects between 10 and 20 million people around the world, is typically treated with antifungal medications, but there are signs of resistance.
According to the study authors, this resistance is due to the widespread use of azole pesticides in agriculture, which are similar to azole drugs used for pergillosis.
Matthew Fisher, co-author of the study and a professor at Imperial College London’s School of Public Health, stated that “understanding the environmental hotspots, genetic basis of evolving fungal resistance needs urgent attention” because resistance is compromising our ability prevent and treat this disease.
The DNA of 218 samples of A. fumigatus from England, Wales and Scotland were analysed by the researchers between 2005 and 2017. The researchers analyzed DNA from 218 samples of A. fumigatus from England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland between 2005 and 2017.
According to the study, six strains of A. fumigatus were found in the environment and infected six people. The journal published the results recently. Nature Microbiology.
Nearly half of the 218 samples were resistant to at most one first-line antiazole drug. 48% were specifically resistant to itraconazole; 29% to voriconazole; 21% to posaconazole.
More than 10% (23 environmental samples and three samples from patients) were resistant at least one azole drug.
The researchers discovered 50 new genes that were associated with the 218 samples. Drug resistance, and five new combinations DNA changes associated with drug resistant, including one that is resistant to multiple drugs.
Fisher explained in a college press release that “the prevalence drug-resistant aspergillosis” has increased from negligible levels in 1999 to as high as 3%-40% today across Europe.
He said that Aspergillus fumigatus infection could be increasing in people who are receiving stem cell or solid transplants, immunosuppressive therapy, have severe viral respiratory infections, or have lung conditions.
According to the researchers, these findings suggest that A. fumigatus needs to be monitored more closely in order to understand its risk to patients and the environment.
More information
More information on aspergillosis can be found at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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