REVIEW ARTICLE
Superficial Fungal Infections and Artificial Intelligence: A Review on Current Advances and Opportunities: REVISION
Bahareh Hasan Pour,
Corresponding Author
Bahareh Hasan Pour
School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Correspondence:
Bahareh Hasan Pour ([email protected])
Contribution: Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing - review & editing, Project administration, Supervision, Data curation, Writing - original draft
Search for more papers by this authorBahareh Hasan Pour,
Corresponding Author
Bahareh Hasan Pour
School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Correspondence:
Bahareh Hasan Pour ([email protected])
Contribution: Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing - review & editing, Project administration, Supervision, Data curation, Writing - original draft
Search for more papers by this authorFunding: The author received no specific funding for this work.
ABSTRACT
Background
Superficial fungal infections are among the most common infections in world, they mainly affect skin, nails and scalp without further invasion. Superficial fungal diseases are conventionally diagnosed with direct microscopy, fungal culture or histopathology, treated with topical or systemic antifungal agents and prevented in immunocompetent patients by improving personal hygiene. However, conventional diagnostic tests can be time-consuming, also treatment can be insufficient or ineffective and prevention can prove to be demanding. Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to a digital system having an intelligence akin to a human being. The concept of AI has existed since 1956, but hasn't been practicalised until recently. AI has revolutionised medical research in the recent years, promising to influence almost all specialties of medicine.
Objective
An increasing number of articles have been published about the usage of AI in cutaneous mycoses.
Methods
In this review, the key findings of articles about utilisation of AI in diagnosis, treatment and prevention of superficial fungal infections are summarised. Moreover, the need for more research and development is highlighted.
Results
Fifty-four studies were reviewed. Onychomycosis was the most researched superficial fungal infection. AI can be used diagnosing fungi in macroscopic and microscopic images and classify them to some extent. AI can be a tool and be used as a part of something bigger to diagnose superficial mycoses.
Conclusion
AI can be used in all three steps of diagnosing, treating and preventing. AI can be a tool complementary to the clinician's skills and laboratory results.
Open Research
Data Availability Statement
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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