From field to hospital: the rise of fungal resistance

Hospitals are reporting a worrying development: fungal infections are becoming increasingly difficult to treat due to rising resistance to existing medicines. A recent article in the Dutch newspaper NRC highlights this issue, which is also being observed more frequently worldwide.

From agriculture to healthcare

International research shows that this concern is more widespread. In particular, the use of azoles – a group of antifungal agents used in both agriculture and the medical world – is central to this issue. Resistant strains of Aspergillus fumigatus, a common fungus, are now being found not only in patients but also in the environment, such as in soil and plant debris.

Resistance outside the hospital

It is striking that this resistance also occurs in patients who have never previously been treated with antifungal medication. This suggests that the origin of this resistance lies (in part) outside the hospital. European and international studies therefore refer to this as a ‘One Health’ issue, in which agriculture, the environment and healthcare are closely interlinked.

Impact on vulnerable patients

For vulnerable patients, such as those with compromised immune systems, this can have serious consequences. Infections with Aspergillus fumigatus can lead to invasive lung infections, where treatment options are limited and mortality rates can rise significantly. Precisely because the number of effective medicines is limited, resistance has a direct impact on treatability in these cases.

No clear picture yet

At the same time, the scientific community is not yet entirely clear on the exact contribution of agricultural use to resistance in clinical settings. Regional differences are significant and other factors also play a role. What is clear, however, is that the use of similar active substances across sectors creates shared selection pressure for resistance.

Taking a broader view of sustainability

For the food chain, this means that sustainability is being viewed in an increasingly broader context. In addition to environmental impact and yield, the relationship with public health and the long-term resilience of cropping systems is coming into sharper focus.

This development underscores the importance of cropping systems that are less reliant on synthetic fungicides and contribute to a more robust ecosystem. Sustainability therefore affects not only the environment, but also the overall resilience of our food chain and public health.

Sources: NRC Handelsblad (2026); EFSA (2025); Frontiers - Berger et al. (2017); Oxford Academic - Fengler et al. (2026); Science Direct - Verweij et al. (2020); MDPI Journal of Fungi - Zubovskaia (2025); RIVM (2018).