One Health Approach to Diagnose and Treat Fungal/Bacterial Infections

Dear Colleagues,

Bacterial and fungal infections are a significant health concern globally, affecting both humans and animals. The concept of "One Health" recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health and emphasizes collaborative efforts across disciplines to address health challenges comprehensively.

Many bacterial infections can be transmitted between humans and animals, through contaminated food, water, or direct contact with infected animals. Bacterial infections are a major driver of antimicrobial resistance, which poses a significant threat to public health. Antibiotics used in both human medicine and agriculture contribute to the development of resistant bacteria. Some bacterial pathogens can persist in the environment, complicating infection control practices. One Health approaches to combat AMR involve promoting responsible use of antibiotics in both human healthcare and veterinary medicine, as well as implementing infection prevention and control measures, which also involves improving water sanitation and implementing surveillance and control measures in both human-built and natural environments.

The World Health Organization has released its first-ever fungal pathogen priority list (WHO FPPL) to prioritize fungal pathogens systematically. The Centre for Disease Control (CDC, Atlanta) recommends ‘Think Fungus’, as fungal infections are silent killers, ahead of even tropical infections, leading to the death of about 1.7 million patients per year globally. Invasive fungal infections are increasing, and resistance to the most popular group of antifungals—azoles—has started to emerge. Candidemia, invasive aspergillosis, and mucor mycosis have been increasingly reported worldwide, along with the increasing prevalence of fusariosis, phaeohyphomycosis, and trichosporonosis. Drug resistance is being increasingly reported, whether it is Aspergillus strains or Dermatophytic isolates.

Climate change can influence the distribution and prevalence of bacterial and fungal infections by altering environmental conditions such as temperature and precipitation patterns. One Health approaches to addressing climate-related impacts on these infections may involve monitoring changes in disease patterns, implementing adaptive strategies for disease control, and promoting sustainable environmental practices.

Potential areas to contribute toward this Special Issue could include:

    Newer techniques for identifying bacteria/fungi;

    Emerging bacterial/fungal infections;

    Bacterial/fungal pathogenesis;

    Identifying biomarkers: existing or new;

    Antifungal susceptibility testing and antifungal drug resistance;

    Newer antimicrobial agents and their spectrum;

    New approach to disease mechanisms;

    Molecular diagnosis of bacteria/fungi;

    Co-infections/superinfections: bacteria, fungi, and other pathogens;

    Environmental bacteria/fungi and their impact on human health;

    Epidemiological typing in relation to fungal isolates such as Candida auris;

    Climate change and the impact on bacterial/fungal infections.

Authors are encouraged to contribute their work related to the latest technologies for bacterial or fungal diagnostics or cutting-edge therapeutic decisions taken.

Dr. Nidhi Singla
Prof. Dr. Alessandro Russo
Dr. Godfred A. Menezes
Dr. Pratibha Kale
Dr. Vinaykumar Hallur
Guest Editors

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