Overview

• A New England Journal of Medicine commentary by UC Davis’s George Thompson and Angel Desai warns that agricultural fungicides may be contributing to antifungal drug resistance
• Fungal diseases impose significant health burdens, with pathogens such as Candida auris developing multidrug resistance and driving prolonged treatments and increased healthcare costs
• Biological similarities between fungal pathogens and human cells complicate the development of selective antifungal drugs, heightening the need for preventive measures
• A One Health framework that integrates human, animal and environmental health would support consistent assessment and stewardship of new antifungal agents
• The EPA’s Interagency Drug and Pesticide Resistance and Efficacy Workgroup has begun evaluating proposed pesticides for potential effects on medical treatments, serving as a model for international coordination