Surveillance Study to Identify Invasive Fungal Infections in Hospitalized Patients at Tertiary Care Hospitals in Dhaka, Bangladesh

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to monitor and identify invasive fungal infections among hospitalized patients in Bangladesh at two major tertiary care hospitals. It highlights the significant global burden of fungal diseases, especially among immunocompromised individuals, and the lack of ongoing national surveillance systems in Bangladesh. The study addresses challenges like insufficient diagnostic capacity and aims to improve data collection and infection prevention practices. The study involves collecting various clinical samples such as respiratory specimens, blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, wound swabs, and biopsy tissues from patients in intensive care, general medicine, surgery wards, and post-operative care. These samples will be tested in laboratories using microscopy, staining, culture, biochemical tests, and possibly molecular or immunological methods to identify fungal pathogens like Aspergillus, Histoplasma, Candida, Pneumocystis, Cryptococcus, and Mucormycetes. Participants include hospitalized patients of all ages with immunosuppressive conditions or risk factors for fungal infections. Consent will be obtained from patients or caregivers. The study will monitor the proportion of invasive fungal pathogens identified in these patients between July 2022 and September 2026. Data collection and testing will support improved diagnosis, management, and surveillance of fungal infections in Bangladesh.

Fungal Surveillance in Bangladesh