Antifungal Susceptibility Testing and the Ticking Clock

Abstract

With rising incidences of fungal infections leading to Invasive Fungal Infections (IFIs), Antifungal Susceptibility Testing (AFST) has become the need of the hour and its availability at all the tertiary care settings is a prerequisite for better diagnostics and thus, improved therapeutic management. Multiple factors are into play rendering this rising incidence, and thus, the potential antifungal resistance in those fungi is imminent. To let it off, cautious and timely measure of availing AFST and identification of fungi to species level has become mandatory and needs to be addressed. Antimicrobial Stewardship may play a major role in this transition.