Bhubaneswar: A recent study has flagged serious gaps in fungal disease diagnosis across Odisha, raising concerns over timely detection and treatment of infections that account for millions of deaths globally.According to the study, published in Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology on May 15, 90.5% of medical colleges in Odisha has independent mycology sections, but none had full-time dedicated staff. Only 57.1% relied on part-time personnel, indicating a shortage of trained experts in fungal diagnostics.The research by experts from AIIMS-Bhubaneswar; ICMR; SLN Medical College and Hospital, Koraput; and a private hospital, analysed diagnostic capacity in 19 medical colleges and two corporate hospitals in the state and found that while most institutions had basic facilities, advanced testing and trained manpower were missing.Asked about the study, director of medical education and training, Dr Durga Madhab Satapathy, said he will go through the research paper and analyse what is lacking in the mycology sections of the medical colleges. “We need to check how many permanent staff are there. After checking it with medical colleges, I can speak more on this matter,” he added.The findings revealed low laboratory utilisation, with 90.5% of centres processing fewer than 50 samples a week. Researchers said this suggests underdiagnosis or lack of referrals, despite a significant burden of fungal infections in India.“Basic diagnostic tools such as microscopy were available in most facilities, but only 66.7% conducted fungal cultures. Advanced diagnostic technologies were completely absent,” said the study.Equally concerning was the lack of essential tests and quality assurance systems. “None of the laboratories offered key tests such as beta-D-glucan or Histoplasma antigen detection, while only 4.8% participated in external quality assurance programmes,” said the research.Anti-fungal susceptibility testing was available in just 42.9% of the centres and limited to yeast infections. Testing for mould infections was not available at all, said the study.“The findings point clearly to where structured support — particularly in staff training and participation in quality assurance programmes — can make a difference,” said Diptanu Paul, assistant professor, department of microbiology, AIIMS-Bhubaneswar.Researchers attributed these gaps to resource constraints, lack of specialised expertise and low prioritisation of fungal diseases in public health system. Odisha’s predominantly rural population and healthcare limitations further compound the challenge, they said.“Strengthening laboratory infrastructure and fostering regular communication between microbiology teams and clinical departments are practical steps that can support more timely and accurate diagnosis of fungal infections,” said Vinaykumar Hallur, additional professor, department of microbiology, AIIMS-Bhubaneswar.Globally, fungal infections cause nearly 3.8 million deaths every year, while in India, 4.1% of the population suffer from such diseases, said the researchers.The authors called for urgent investment in laboratory capacity, staff training and quality assurance mechanisms to improve detection and patient outcomes. Without targeted intervention, experts warn that emerging drug-resistant fungal infections could go unnoticed.
