Profiling medical mycologists: Results from a global survey of the ESCMID Fungal Infection Study Group (EFISG).

Abstract

Invasive fungal infections are a major cause of morbi-mortality, particularly in immunocompromised and critically ill patients. Increasing antifungal resistance, unequal access to diagnostics and therapies, and complex host-pathogen interactions highlight the need for coordinated research. The European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Fungal Infection Study Group (EFISG) addresses these challenges by promoting multidisciplinary collaboration and advancing research and education in medical mycology. This study aimed to characterize the global medical mycology workforce using EFISG as a representative international network. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among EFISG members between June and December 2025. The survey collected data on demographics, geographic distribution, professional background, career stage, research interests, language proficiency, and involvement in other scientific societies and ESCMID study groups. A total of 342 members from 72 countries responded, representing two-thirds of all countries with EFISG membership. Most participants were based in Europe (60%). Sex distribution was balanced, and all career stages were included, with 22.8% early-career professionals and 14.6% trainees. Key research interests included epidemiology of fungal infections (68.4%), mycoses in immunocompromised hosts (67.5%), development of diagnostic methods (54.4%), and rare and emerging fungal diseases (54.1%). Infectious disease specialists (52.3%) and microbiologists (42.4%) comprised the majority of respondents, and most reported active participation in other ESCMID study groups and scientific societies. These findings provide the first structured overview of the medical mycology workforce, identifying gaps in representation, training, and emerging research areas, with implications for global capacity building, collaboration, and strategic planning beyond EFISG.