Experts in infectious diseases are raising concerns that the emergence of new fungicides in U.S. agriculture could lead to increased resistance in critical antifungal medications used for humans and animals.
These antifungal pesticides are crucial for managing crop diseases, but their ongoing development might make individuals more susceptible to serious infections, according to commentary published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
George Thompson, a professor at the University of California School of Medicine and the paper’s lead author, pointed out the lessons learned from antibiotic resistance. He noted, “We’ve seen how the extensive use of antibiotics in livestock contributes to quickly developing resistance to those drugs.” He added there is similar apprehension regarding antifungal usage in agricultural settings.
Fungi that trigger severe human infections, particularly hard-to-treat strains like Candida auris, have been on the rise, as noted by scientists over recent decades.
Thompson stressed the importance of “preventing resistance,” highlighting that there are limited antifungal treatments available to eliminate harmful microorganisms from the human body.
Currently, in the U.S., around 75,000 hospital admissions and approximately 9 million outpatient appointments each year result from such infections, costing between $6.7 billion and $7.5 billion annually.
Simultaneously, the USDA estimates that fungi accumulate losses in crops ranging from $100 to $200 billion each year, equating to 10% to 20% of total crop losses.
Notably, researchers are becoming increasingly aware that antifungal pesticides and the antifungal drugs utilized share similar mechanisms. The authors cautioned that introducing these chemicals could endanger human health, as they might encourage the emergence of resistant fungi in the environment.
Moreover, they pointed out that creating new antifungal medications poses its own challenges, primarily due to the metabolic similarities between human cells and fungi, along with the rise in antifungal resistance.
To tackle these complex issues, a “one health” strategy is deemed necessary. This concept emphasizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. The commentary suggested that involving experts from all these areas will be increasingly vital for future solutions.
Researchers also mentioned that fostering collaboration between national and global regulatory bodies could be a cost-effective way to prevent the rapid spread of resistant pathogens.
