Burden of fungal infections in Algeria

Abstract

We report for the first time in Algeria and provide burden estimates. We searched for existing data and estimated the incidence and prevalence of fungal diseases based on the population at risk and available epidemiological data. Demographic data were derived from the National Office of Statistics (Office National des Statistiques: ONS), World Health Organization (WHO), The Joint Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and national published reports. When no data existed, risk populations were used to estimate frequencies of fungal infections, using previously described methodology. Algeria has 40.4 million inhabitants, and probably at least 568,900 (1.41%) of Algerians have a serious fungal infection each year. Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (485,000) and fungal asthma (72,000) are probably the commonest problems, as there are over 1 million adult asthmatics. Candidaemia is estimated in 2,020 people, invasive aspergillosis in 2,865 people, and intra-abdominal candidiasis in 303 people; these are the most common life-threatening problems. AIDS is uncommon, but cancer is not (45,000 new cases of cancer including 1,500 in children), nor is COPD (an estimated 317,762 patients, of whom 20.3% are admitted to hospital each year). A focus on improving the diagnosis and epidemiological data related to fungal infection is necessary in Algeria.

Global and Multi-National Prevalence of Fungal Diseases—Estimate Precision

“…The highest estimated cases were from Nigeria (15,581,400 cases) [ 62 ] followed by Kenya with 1,712,676 cases [ 75 ], with Senegal, Uganda and Tanzania reporting 1,523,700, 1,300,000 and 420,000 cases respectively [ 78 , 122 , 133 ]. Algeria is the only North Africa country that has estimated the burden of the disease and they reported 4265 cases [ 64 ]. The lowest rates were from Asia, with just 50 and 59 cases estimated in Sri Lanka [ 90 ] and Thailand [ 55 ] respectively.…”

Burden of Serious Fungal Infections in Jordan

“…Comparing the Jordan rate ( Table 1 ) with other regional countries ( Table 2 ), like Saudi Arabia, candidemia rates were estimated to be higher in Saudi Arabia at 10/100,000, while the estimate for Jordan is 5/100,000 [ 28 ]; Algeria, Iraq, and Egypt candidemia rates were similar to Jordan and arbitrary, as no good epidemiological data are published (5/100,000) [ 29 , 30 , 31 ]. Candida peritonitis in Jordan was estimated to be 0.74/100,000, almost similar to Algeria and Egypt where both recorded rates of 0.75/100,000.…”

“…Mucormycosis annual rates in Iraq and Algeria were estimated, as in Jordan, at about 0.2/100,000 [ 29 , 30 , 31 ], while 0.034/100,000 for Saudi Arabia ( Table 2 ), whereas in Canada and France the rate was recorded at 0.12/100,000 [ 34 , 35 ], an earlier French study based on “capture recapture” methodology added (0.028/100,000), i.e., 23% more cases to the generally-known rates [ 36 ]. We do not believe any cases of cryptococcal meningitis have been recorded in Jordan; at least, from Jordan Hospital and Medical Center, Amman, Jordan one non-HIV related cryptococcal meningitis was diagnosed under JW’s (one of the authors) care about a year after this study was posted as an abstract in Copenhagen, 25th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID 2015), EV0938 (personal knowledge).…”

Invasive Candidiasis: Epidemiology and Risk Factors

“…In China, geographic variations in the causative species and susceptibilities were noted, with increasing isolates resistant to fluconazole [101]. The numbers for the African countries are lacking and for some countries like Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Egypt, Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania, the estimated incidence is 5.8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, a standard calculation based on previously reported incidence in other countries [102][103][104][105][106][107][108].…”