Drug Shortage – Call for Improved Access to Vital Drug against Invasive Fungal Infections

Scientists from Cologne criticize the severely limited availability of flucytosine, which requires urgent action by authorities and the pharmaceutical industry. Under the leadership of Professor Dr Oliver A. Cornely from CECAD Cluster of Excellence for Ageing Research, the problem was addressed in a commentary published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe in cooperation with the hospital pharmacy and the microbiology department of the University Hospital of Cologne (UHC). Cornely and his team conduct research at the European Centre of Excellence for Invasive Fungal Infections, and treat patients at the University Hospital Cologne. With their expertise in fungal infections, they also advise doctors from all over Germany on difficult cases on a daily basis. “Most of the patients are seriously ill people with a weakened immune system. A fungal infection that is not treated can quickly become life-threatening in these cases,” explains Dr Rosanne Sprute from Cornely’s working group. Invasive fungal infections are...