Recording of systemic and invasive mycoses caused by filamentous fungi (SIFI) in Greece

Aims

• To monitor the epidemiological trends of rare SIFIs in Greece.
• To analyze various parameters including clinical forms of SIFIs, underlying conditions, mode of transmission, site of infection, type of fungus, susceptibility to antifungals, treatment and correlate them with the outcome.

The ultimate goals are to raise the awareness of physicians in order to increase the index of suspicion for SIFIs in the differential diagnosis, to facilitate and speed up laboratory diagnosis, to minimize morbidity and mortality by early initiation of appropriate and targeted treatment, and finally to minimize the economic consequences for both patients and the health system.

The examined fungal diseases are:

• Mucormycosis (formerly zygomycosis)
• Fusariosis
• Rare fungal infections

The project is ongoing.

Publications

1. Drogari-Apiranthitou M, Skiada A, Panayiotides I, Vyzantiadis TA, Poulopoulou A, Christofidou M, Antoniadou A, Roilides E, Iosifidis E, Mamali V, Argyropoulou A, Sympardi S, Charalampaki N, Antonakos N, Mantzana P, Mastora Z, Nicolatou-Galitis O, Orfanidou M, Pana ZD, Pavleas I, Pefanis A, Sakka V, Spiliopoulou A, Stamouli M, Tofas P, Vagiakou E, Petrikkos G. Epidemiology of Mucormycosis in Greece; Results from a Nationwide Prospective Survey and Published Case Reports. J Fungi (Basel). 2023 Mar 29;9(4):425. doi: 10.3390/jof9040425.
2. Mpakosi A, Siopi M, Vrioni G, Orfanidou M, Argyropoulou A, Christofidou M, Kostoula M, Golegou S, Antoniadou A, Vagiakou E, Petrou E, Platsouka E, Papadogeorgaki E, Meletiadis J, Chatziralli I, Theodossiadis P, Petrikkos G, Drogari-Apiranthitou M. Filamentous Fungal Keratitis in Greece: A 16-Year Nationwide Multicenter Survey. Mycopathologia. 2022 Dec;187(5-6):439-453. doi: 10.1007/s11046-022-00666-1.