gms | German Medical Science

Background: The relevance of emerging invasive fungal diseases (IFD) is increasing. Fungiscope^TM is a global registry for emerging IFD with members in >45 countries. The objective is to broaden knowledge on epidemiology, determine clinical patterns, describe and improve diagnostic procedures and therapeutic regimens, and to exchange of clinical isolates among contributors.

Methods: Fungiscope™ uses web-based data capture via www.fungiscope.net. Case enrollment requires cultural, histological, antigen or molecular evidence of IFD. Data collected include demographics, underlying conditions, immunosuppressive medication, clinical signs and symptoms, sites of infection, diagnostic tests, pathogen identification, antifungal treatment, surgical procedures, response to treatment, and survival.

Results: To date, 357 cases have been captured. Mucorales (n=155; 43.4%), Fusarium spp. (n=58; 16.2%), yeasts (n=51; 14.3%), and Dematiaceae (n=34; 9.5%) are the most frequently registered pathogens. Chemotherapy or allogeneic stem cell transplantation were the predominant risk factors (n=243; 68.1%), followed by diabetes (n=68; 19%), intensive care (n=81; 22.7%), and chronic renal disease (n=34; 9.5%). Sites of infection included lung (n=174; 48.7%), followed by blood stream (n=73; 20.4%), paranasal sinuses (n=61; 17.1%), and deep soft tissue (n=54; 15.1%). Favorable outcome was found in 177 (49.6%) patients. All-cause-mortality and mortality attributable to IFD was 47.1% and 35.9%, respectively.

Conclusion: We documented a broad biological diversity of IFD across Europe, Asia and the Americas. Patients with malignancies are at particular risk. Mortality is high. Further investigators are invited to contribute to FungiscopeTM.

Keywords: Rare fungal infections, web-based registry