About 'ISHAM-Fungal Diagnostics Working Group'

The 'Fungal Diagnostics' working group was established in 2022 under the umbrella of International Society for Human and Animal Mycology (ISHAM) by a group of Medical Mycologists, Clinical Microbiology Diagnostics Laboratory Directors  and Infectious Disease experts to support standardization of fungal diagnostics in different clinical settings. 

We aim to share expertise among all countries around the globe especially those with limited resources to provide a strong framework of existing knowledge on ‘Fungal Diagnostics’, identify essential diagnostics tests and also tackle the diagnostic gaps, by learning from each other. 

We will collaborate with other ISHAM-working groups, international societies, regulatory agencies and governmental authorities.  

 The objectives of the working group are:

• to form an international network where clinical microbiology/mycology laboratory directors and clinicians can exchange knowledge. 
• to establish and coordinate joint research projects between members of the Fungal Diagnostics and other ISHAM working groups and international societies.
• to initiate and contribute to the development of international guidelines subject fungal diagnostics.
• Coordinate multicenter audits and research and write joint publications.
• to develop international educational programs to aid in the diagnosis and care of patients with fungal infections.
• to organize meetings and sessions at congresses as appropriate
• to enhance the global understanding, accessibility and validity of fungal diagnostics

Our expertise includes: 
1.    Conventional Mycology 
2.    Molecular Diagnostics 
3.    Next-Generation Sequencing
5.    MALDI-TOF
5.    Antifungal Susceptibility Testing (phenotypic and molecular assays to identify resistance)
6.    Biomarkers, serology and point of care assays
7.    Cytology/Pathology
8.    Novel diagnostic approaches (metabolomics, transcriptomics, mycobiome, cytokine detection assays, T cell phenotyping, …)    of Radiology.