South Asian Epidemic of Antifungal Therapeutic Failures: Congress Proceedings and Take-home Messages. First International Congress of SAARCUM: South Asian Alliance Against Recalcitrant Cutaneous Mycosis. 17 November 2018, Medanta – The Medicity, Gurugram, India

In 2019, the South Asian Alliance against Recalcitrant CUtaneous Mycosis (SAARCUM) was established to address the widespread failure of antifungal treatments, particularly for dermatophytic infections, in South Asia. The First International Congress of SAARCUM, attended by 162 delegates, focused on this issue, highlighting the global increase in resistant superficial mycoses and the need for large scale, region-specific studies to understand variations in antifungal susceptibility. The misuse of systemic antifungals, especially itraconazole, was identified as a key factor in resistance, affecting over 90% of patients with tinea. The potential of ciclopirox olamine, a drug without developed resistance, was noted, and terbinafine was suggested as the preferred systemic antifungal. The congress also discussed innovative treatments like photodynamic, ultraviolet, and LED therapies, and the use of phytoceuticals. The need for regional cooperation and multicentric trials was emphasized.