CALL FOR ACTION: Integration of antifungal resistance into GAP-AMR now – STOP the silent pandemic

Invasive fungal diseases affect over 6.5 million people annually and cause high mortality. This burden is increasing due to the global spread of drug-resistant fungi, driven by widespread antifungal use, particularly in agriculture. Antifungals are essential for human health and crop protection, but their use, especially azoles, also drives antifungal resistance (AFR) across human, plant, and environmental interfaces.

Fungi are eukaryotes, making drug development difficult and limiting treatment options. AFR remains underrepresented in global antimicrobial resistance strategies.

As the World Health Organization prepares the 2026 update of the Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance, AFR must be fully integrated within a One Health approach. The publication “Closing the Gap on Antifungal Resistance” calls for urgent action.

We face a silent surge of drug-resistant fungi already costing lives. Failure to act now risks repeating the costly mistakes made in addressing antibacterial resistance.

Cite it:
Lackner M., et al. (2026). Closing the gap on antifungal resistance. Nature Medicine.

DOI: 10.1038/s41591-026-04334-5
https://lnkd.in/dS5tH2nc

Roohi, B., Tyndall, J.D., Svoboda, T. et al. The dual role of azoles: lifesaving antifungals and drivers of resistance – a One Health perspective. Nat Commun (2026).

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-71762-9

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-71762-9

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