1. Shared Vision for Improving Outcomes for Serious Fungal Diseases: Report of a Patient, Caregiver, and Clinician Summit.
- Author
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Purdie R, Tushla LA, Ferretti J, Castro GK, Watson R, Davis T, Raborg B, Mazi PB, Stroman A, Thomas Jones C, Walsh TJ, Chiller TM, Pappas PG, Meyer J, and Spec A
- Abstract
Background: Recently, increasing focus on patient input into research and healthcare improvements has fostered expanded patient-centered advocacy efforts. This first pan-fungal disease summit, part of the MYCology Advocacy, Research, & Education effort, brought together patients, caregivers, and mycology experts to better document patient experiences with invasive fungal disease (IFD) and establish priorities for mycology education, advocacy, and research., Methods: Patients who had suffered from IFD, their caregivers, clinicians, industry representatives, government officials, and patient advocacy professionals were invited. Patients and caregivers shared their stories and struggles with IFD. Breakout sessions separated mycology experts from patients and caregivers for further discussions to identify commonalities and perceived gaps and to formulate recommendations. The 2 groups then reconvened to develop consensus recommendations., Results: IFD patients and their caregivers shared experiences reflecting the typically lengthy prediagnosis, acute treatment, long-term treatment, and posttreatment recovery stages of IFD. They reported substantial physical, psychological, and financial burdens associated with the IFD experience, particularly related to delayed diagnoses. They reaffirmed a need for coordinated patient-centered education, peer support, and advocacy to document the burden of serious fungal infections. Mycology experts discussed strategies to address gaps in the mycology field, such as insufficient training, inadequate workforce support, and a need to partner more with patient groups., Conclusions: A summit involving patients with IFD, family caregivers, and mycology experts identified a substantial nonclinical burden of disease associated with IFD. Patients and mycology experts prioritized several goals for education, advocacy, and research to raise awareness of IFD and improve outcomes., Competing Interests: Potential conflicts of interest. R. P. receives grant support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Labor; received consulting fees from Clinical Outcomes Solutions, a travel stipend from the World Health Organization to attend the annual Taskforce of AMR Survivors meeting and the European Confederation of Medical Mycology to speak at TIMM 2023; unpaid Board of Directors positions with MyCARE, Integrita Healthcare Foundation, and Valley Fever Americas Foundation. L. A. T. received research grant support from Bristol Myers Squibb and Novartis; support from Astellas Pharma US; F2G; IMMY; Melinta Therapeutics, Inc; and the Mycoses Study Group Education & Research Consortium for the 2023 Patient/Provider Summit that was the basis for this manuscript, a travel stipend from the International Alliance of Dermatology Patient Organizations to attend GlobalSkin2023; an unpaid nonvoting membership with MSGERC. G. C. received honoraria and travel assistance from Integrita Healthcare Foundation to attend the 2023 Patient Summit. J. M. received honoraria and travel assistance from Integrita Healthcare Education Foundation to attend the 2023 Patient Summit. T. D. received travel assistance from Integrita Healthcare Foundation to attend the 2023 Patient Summit; unpaid Board of Directors position with Integrita Healthcare Foundation. A. S. has received honoraria and travel assistance from Integrita Healthcare Foundation to attend the 2023 Patient/Provider Summit; an unpaid role as co-chair of the Patient Advocacy Committee at Integrita Healthcare Foundation. C. T. J. receives grant support from National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; a paid position as the Executive Director of the Mycoses Study Group Education and Research Consortium; a paid role as faculty at The Ohio State University. T. J. W. receives support from the Henry Schueler Foundation and Save Our Sick Kids Foundation for this manuscript; grants or contracts with Astellas, F2G, Gilead, Leadiant, T2 Biosystems, and Scynexis; received consulting fees from Abbott Laboratories, Partner Therapeutics, Scynexis, Statera, T2 Biosystems, Shionogi, Omeros, and Leadiant; Advisory Board positions with Scynexis, Abbott Laboratories, Partner Therapeutics, T2 Biosystems, Gilead, and Leviant; leadership positions with Medical Mycology Societies of the Americas, Center for Innovative Therapeutics and Diagnostics, ECMM, Henry Schueler Foundation, Save Our Sick Kids Foundation, and Mycoses Study Group Education and Research Consortium. P. G. P. receives research support from Melinta, Astellas, and Scynexis; and consulting fees from F2G, Melinta, Matinas, and Scynexis. A. S. received consulting fees from Scynexis, F2G and GSK. All remaining authors: All authors have submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. Conflicts that the editors consider relevant to the content of the manuscript have been disclosed. All other authors report no potential conflicts., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America.)
- Published
- 2024
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