Plain language summary: Does a person's age affect how common fungal infections are and how well drugs can kill the infections?

Abstract

Fungi are types of microbes that include molds and yeasts. Fungal infections can make people ill and can even cause death, especially in older people. They can be treated using antifungal drugs, but some fungi are drug resistant. This means the drug cannot kill the fungi. This is a summary based on a study that looked at fungal samples to find out more about antifungal drug resistance in adults younger than 65 compared with adults aged 65 and older. The study found that one type of drug-resistant fungus, called Candida parapsilosis, was more common in older people than in younger people. Another type, called Aspergillus fumigatus, was more common in younger people than in older people. We also found genetic changes in drug-resistant fungi. These changes could explain why the drugs did not work. We hope that the findings from this study can help scientists create new treatments for drug-resistant fungal infections.