Vaccinations play an important role in both our individual and community health. They help to prevent serious and sometimes deadly diseases by strengthening our immune system. But in recent years this cost effective method of disease prevention has come under the spot light, drawing attention to some myths and misconceptions.

In this episode, Dr Anne von Gottberg dives into the importance of vaccinations, how to handle missed vaccines, vaccine dos and don'ts and recent changes in the Extended Programme onIimmunzation(EPI) in South Africa.

About our Guest:

Dr Anne von Gottberg is currently the laboratory lead at the Centre for Respiratory Diseases and Meningitis at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, South Africa; and Associate Professor within the School of Pathology, Faculty of the Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg; and Honorary Professor, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town. She leads a laboratory team responsible for reference diagnostics for respiratory and meningitis pathogens nationally and regionally. The laboratory is the regional reference laboratory for the World Health Organization (WHO) Vaccine-preventable Invasive Bacterial Diseases (VP-IBD) Coordinated Global Surveillance Network for the southern African region; a National Influenza Centre (NIC); and a global WHO RSV and regional SARS-CoV-2 reference laboratory. She is currently a member of several committees and technical advisory groups for AFRO, Africa CDC and WHO. Her main interests include surveillance for meningitis and respiratory pathogens, assessing vaccine effectiveness where relevant. She has authored or co-authored more than 200 articles in peer-reviewed journals. In addition, she supervises a number of Masters and PhD students. Dr von Gottberg obtained her MBBCh and PhD at the University of the Witwatersrand, and trained for her specialisation in clinical microbiology (FC Path[SA] MICRO) at the National Health Laboratory Service (former South African Institute for Medical Research) and at the University of the Witwatersrand.

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This episode gives a nod to the show's history while also hinting at the variety of topics discussed. A Journey Through the Microscopic World – Highlights from some memorable episodes

Episodes featured in this recap:

• EP 49: No spleen, how mean! - Asplenia_ Antibiotic prophylaxis
• EP 59: What's all the buzz about_ Malaria diagnostics
• EP 33: Would you rather, the antibiotics version_ Empiric therapy for community acquired meningitis
• EP 50: HIV in the USA _ Diagnosing HIV in the USA
• EP 58: Findings from FIDSSA part 2_ Rabies update and outbreak response
• EP 44: Highlights from the PathRed Congress 2023 - Part 1_Emerging viral infections
• EP 62: Myco-moments: Interviews from the 4th AIDS-related Mycoses Workshop: The immunology of Oral candidiasis
• EP 61: "Prescription Ice cream" Book review and interview: Advice to young medical doctors and students
• EP 53 : Appropriate use of β-lactam - β-lactamase inhibitor combinations _ Rapid genetic testing, know your syndromic antibiograms, and diagnostic stewardship

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Earlier this year, some of the Microbe messengers attended the 10th FIDSSA Congress held in Johannesburg, South Africa. Besides being presenters themselves, they met and interviewed medical researchers in various infectious disease related fields.

This joint biennial congress hosted by the Federation of Infectious Diseases Societies of Southern Africa (FIDSSA) brings together healthcare professionals from its various societies, where members share research experiences and outcomes. Let's hope this acts as a catalyst for collaborative work, culminating in all-encompassing guidance in the management of infectious diseases.

To learn more about FIDSSA and its member societies visit: https://www.fidssa.co.za/

This episode includes discussions with:

• Dr Nicollete du Plessis
• Dr Jeremy Nel
• Professor James Seddon (@Jamesseddon10 on X)
• Dr Lyle Murray
• Professor Akebe Luther King Abia
• Dr Ribkha Berhanu

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It's that time of the year again, and most of us have already experience our fair share of the snuffles, so why not discuss it? In this episode Vin and Ruan speak to Associate Professor Diana Hardie about when respiratory infections go viral.... and not in a good way.

About our Guest:

Diana Hardie is a clinical virologist and head of the diagnostic virology laboratory at Groote Schuur Hospital. Her research interests center around viral infections in immuno-compromised patients and the immuno-pathogenesis of viral infections. She has also contributed to the development of various diagnostic assays for viral infections.

She has had many years of experience teaching medical virology and immunology to medical students, honours and post graduate students.

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Ever wondered what Microbiologists get up to in the laboratory? Is it all about waiting for organisms to grow, "doomsday prophecies" regarding antimicrobial resistance, and asking for a clinical correlation? The feild of Microbiology is vast, and Vin speaks to some well seasoned experts to get their take on a career in Microbiology.

About our Guests:

• Crystal Viljoen, B.Tech Biomedical Technology: Crystal has more than 20 years of laboratory experience, and is currently working as the laboratory manager at the Infection Control Laboratory Services in Johannesburg. She is also an executive member of Legionella Action Group (LAG); and has a wealth of experience with quality management systems, including proficiency testing schemes, laboratory safety procedures and the process of laboratory accreditation, gained at the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD)



• Andrea Prinzi, Ph.D., MPH, SM(ASCP): Dr Andrea Prinzi is currently a field medical director of US medical affairs at BioMérieux (pronounced bee oh merry you). Prior to her work in industry, Andrea was a clinical microbiologist with over 12 years of hands-on bench experience in a pediatric hospital laboratory. In 2014, she obtained her master’s in public health from the Colorado School of public health with a focus in epidemiology. In 2021, she completed a PhD in clinical and translational science from the University of Colorado. As a PhD in Clinical and Translational science, her interests include antimicrobial and diagnostic stewardship (with an emphasis on pneumonia diagnostics and management), development of effective teaching methods for clinicians and the fusion of public health, clinical science and medicine to improve patient outcomes, quality improvement, infectious disease epidemiology, science communication, and implementation science. Dr. Prinzi’s PhD work was clinical and translational, and focused on bridging the gap between the clinical microbiology laboratory and clinical practice. She combined clinical diagnostics, public health, clinical research and science communication to improve the way we think about and use diagnostic tests and antimicrobials. Dr. Prinzi is the clinical and public health community leader for the American Society for Microbiology’s Council on Microbial sciences, as well as a regular blog writer for ASM. She is a reviewing editor for the ASM journal Spectrum, as well as an editorial advisory board member for Open Forum Infectious Diseases. She also enjoys volunteering time to help co-host the Let’s Talk Micro antimicrobial resistance sub-series with her friend, Luis Plaza.

• Dr Keeren Lutchminarain: Dr Keeren Lutchminarain is a clinical microbiologist based at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital. Her primary role in the NHLS is to oversee the KZN reference Tb laboratory where she is involved in interpreting routine diagnostic tests; verification of new instruments; teaching and training within the province and TB related research.

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We're back with another game of 'Would you rather?' Where we pose a scenario, and our guests give us their views. This episode really challenges the basis of some of the beliefs and practices regarding antimicrobials. Some of the questions are so tricky, who knows if there even is a correct answer. What we do know is... it depends.

About our Guest:

Prof. Andrew Whitelaw worked as a consultant pathologist in clinical microbiology at Groote Schuur Hospital from 2003 – 2012. In December 2012 took up the post of Head of Department of Medical Microbiology at the University of Stellenbosch / Tygerberg Hospital. His early research revolved around molecular characterization of ESBLs in members of the Enterobacteriaceae, and he has been involved in a number of studies and activities related to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and infection control over the last decade, both for community as well as hospital acquired pathogens. Most relevant among these would be his involvement in the South African Antibiotic Stewardship Programme (SAASP), The Infection Control Society of Southern Africa, and the SA Ministerial Advisory Committee on AMR. 

Ongoing research interests focus on antimicrobial resistance in Enterobacteriaceae and Staphylococcus aureus, including molecular epidemiology and mechanisms of resistance as well as clinical impact and control of AMR. He is also involved in studies describing the human microbiota and in particular the effect of antimicrobials on the microbiota.

Resources from this episode:

SASCM C. difficile infection guidelines

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Don't forget to also have a listen to these featured episodes:

Episode 43: Communicating antimicrobial therapy to patients

Episode 38: Would you rather?: The mycology version

Episode 35: Would you rather?: The virology version

Episode 33: Would you rather?:The Bacterial version

The rampant emergence of antimicrobial resistance, particularly amongst Gram negative organisms, has called for both the discovery of novel agents but also for a review of therapeutics thought to have been long lost in this battle. Enter, the "BLBLIs or BLICs'. In this episode Vin and Ruan speak with the 1st author of the publication "Appropriate use of the new β-lactam - β-lactamase inhibitor combination agents: Ceftazidime-avibactam and Ceftolozane-tazobactam in South Africa", Professor Adrian Brink, and receive a welcomed masterclass on this interesting group of antimicrobials.

About our Guest:

Professor Adrian Brink is Head of the Division: Medical Microbiology, and member of the Institute of Infectious Disease & Molecular Medicine,  Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town and the National Health Laboratory Services, Groote Schuur hospital, Cape Town, South Africa. 

Prof Brink was founding President of the Federation of Infectious Diseases Societies of Southern Africa and is the founder and currently co-chairs the South African Antibiotic Stewardship Program (SAASP). Prof Brink currently serves on the South African Minister of Health’s Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC) on Antimicrobial Resistance and representing Africa, is a member of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases International Affairs Subcommittee.

His is main research interests are the clinical and molecular epidemiology of antibiotic-resistant infections, the mechanisms of resistance as a confounder in antibiotic stewardship, the design and implementation of large-scale antibiotic stewardship, diagnostic stewardship and infection prevention and control interventions in low- and middle-income countries. His interests also include the protective, metabolic and immune functions of the gastrointestinal and vaginal biome including the resistome and metabolome. 

Resources from this episode

Best practices: Appropriate use of Beta-lactam/Beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations Ceftazidime-Avibactam and Ceftolozane-Tazobactam)

WHO Priority Pathogens List

Table 1: Data on inhibitor classes, inhibitory mechanisms, and current clinical trial status, Kar D et al., 2023.

Table 6: β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor (BL/BLI) combinations in clinical trials or submitted for regulatory approval, Butler et al., 2023

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Professor Francois Venter is back in Part 3 of our HIV series in which he continues to address South Africa's battles against HIV. Here he discusses his experience on how and when to initiate antiretroviral therapy, prophylaxis against opportunistic infection, routine monitoring and what the future of HIV management looks like in South Africa.

About our Guest:

Professor WD Francois Venter, MD, FCP, PhD is Executive Director of Wits Ezintsha at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, where he received most of his training. His work involves health systems research and clinical trials, most recently involving the antiretrovirals dolutegravir, tenofovir alafenamide, cabotegravir, and doravirine. He leads multiple antiretroviral treatment optimisation studies and is currently working on new access programmes through private pharmacies within South Africa, patient linkage-to-care interventions, self-testing projects, as well as most recently on new large-scale primary care delivery platforms addressing hypertension, diabetes, obesity, hyperlipidaemia and HIV. He has led large PEPFAR-funded HIV programmes in South Africa, focusing on men, women, children, young people, truckers, sex workers, and LGBTI communities. For over 20 years he has been an advisor to bodies such as the South African government, UNAIDS, and WHO, contributing to international, regional, and national HIV guidelines, and recently served as a member of the Ministerial Advisory Committee for COVID-19. He has an active interest in medical ethics and has been involved in several HIV-related human rights cases within the southern African region. He supervises Masters and PhD students and has over 200 publications, including first-author articles in major journals.

Resources:

SA HIV Clinicians society

ADVANCE STUDY

Southern African HIV Clinicians Society guidelines for antiretroviral therapy in adults:2023 update

Liverpool HIV Drug Interactions Checker

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Part 2 of our HIV series addresses South Africa's battles against HIV as we get an account of the complexities of diagnosis, prophylaxis, and managing opportunistic infections from a celebrated HIV clinician, Professor Francois Venter.

About our Guest:

Professor WD Francois Venter, MD, FCP, PhD is Executive Director of Wits Ezintsha at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, where he received most of his training. His work involves health systems research and clinical trials, most recently involving the antiretrovirals dolutegravir, tenofovir alafenamide, cabotegravir, and doravirine. He leads multiple antiretroviral treatment optimisation studies and is currently working on new access programmes through private pharmacies within South Africa, patient linkage-to-care interventions, self-testing projects, as well as most recently on new large-scale primary care delivery platforms addressing hypertension, diabetes, obesity, hyperlipidaemia and HIV. He has led large PEPFAR-funded HIV programmes in South Africa, focusing on men, women, children, young people, truckers, sex workers, and LGBTI communities. For over 20 years he has been an advisor to bodies such as the South African government, UNAIDS, and WHO, contributing to international, regional, and national HIV guidelines, and recently served as a member of the Ministerial Advisory Committee for COVID-19. He has an active interest in medical ethics and has been involved in several HIV-related human rights cases within the southern African region. He supervises Masters and PhD students and has over 200 publications, including first-author articles in major journals.

Resources:

SA HIV Clinicians society website

PrEP guidelines

PEP guidelines

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Here we discuss how HIV is diagnosed and managed in the USA.

About our Guest:

Dr Ankita Kadakia, M.D. serves as the Deputy Public Health Officer for the County of San Diego.  Prior to her current role she served as the Chief and Medical Director for the County’s Tuberculosis Control and Refugee Health Branch and is the President of the California Tuberculosis Controller’s Association. Dr. Kadakia is a board-certified Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease specialist.  She has served in leading, coordinating, supervising, and managing operations for Covid-19 as well as coordinating the County Public Health Service’s Tuberculosis Elimination Initiative. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, she has played a critical role as a medical subject matter expert and Tri-Chair of the County COVID-19 Vaccine Clinical Advisory Group.

Prior to joining the County, Dr. Kadakia worked at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) as an Assistant Professor of Medicine with a focus on HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ healthcare while practicing HIV medicine at UCSD Owen Clinic.  While at UCSD, Dr. Kadakia created the first Transgender HealthCare Symposium and became a co- principal investigator for the San Diego Pacific AIDS Education and Training Center. 

Dr. Kadakia’s passion, for serving underserved patients and preventing and treating Tuberculosis, STDs and HIV/AIDS, transcends borders. She has spent time in Uganda serving rural areas, partnering with Ugandans, to build and support schools for AIDS orphans and impoverished children. When she is not working, she immensely enjoys spending time with her two young children and practicing and teaching Kelee meditation.

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The spleen is a poorly understood organ that when functioning well, operates efficiently in the background, but what can happen when medical conditions or trauma result in an impairment in that function? In today's episode Vin talks to Professor Veronica Ueckermann about the spleen. They discuss its various functions including mopping up old or damaged red blood cells and its pivotal role in the immune system.

About our Guest:

Prof Veronica Ueckermann is the head of Infectious diseases at the University of Pretoria/Steve Biko Academic Hospital. She holds a PhD in Infectious diseases, a Fellowship in Critical care, and a Masters in Internal Medicine.  Her research focus is HIV, Tuberculosis, aerobiology, and antimicrobial resistance.   She is actively involved in medical education at the University of Pretoria and other platforms. 

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Injection drug use is becoming increasingly common in Sub-Saharan Africa...and with it, the myriad of infectious complications. On this episode, Vin chats to Dr Evan Shoul about infections and some important considerations for managing patients who inject drugs.

About our Guest:

Dr Evan Shoul specialised as a consultant physician in Johannesburg and then completed his infectious diseases fellowship on the Wits circuit. He now works at the Netcare Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg and has a special interest in HIV and travel medicine.

Social media:

Twitter/X: @EvanShoul

Southern African HIV Clinicians Society guidelines for harm reduction:

From Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine https://doi.org/10.4102/sajhivmed.v21i1.1161

https://sahivsoc.org/Files/Southern%20African%20HIV%20Clinicians%20Society%20guidelines%20for%20harm%20reduction.pdf

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In this episode Vin talks to experienced microbiologist Dr Jennifer Coetzee about an increasingly urgent issue: multidrug-resistant infections. With resistance to common antibiotics on the rise, the need for novel treatment agents has never been more pressing.

Dr. Coetzee shares her insights on the latest treatments making headway in the fight against multidrug-resistant infections.

About our Guest:

Jennifer Coetzee is a qualified as a Clinical Microbiologist from University of Witwatersrand and spent time working as a Consultant at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. Currently working as a Consultant Microbiologist in the Clinical Microbiology and Molecular biology departments of Ampath’s National Reference Laboratory in Centurion, Gauteng. A member of South African Society of Clinical Microbiology (SASCM) as well as European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID).Research interests include documenting the emergence of carbapenemases in South Africa, and the epidemiology of invasive fungal infections.

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Invasive candidiasis (IC)...or evasive candidiasis? This famous fungus somehow managed to cause a great deal of anxiety, especially when it comes to confirming the diagnosis. In this episode, we talk about risk factors for disease, diagnosis and treatment of IC.

About our Guest:

Dr Tari Papavarnavas completed his medical degree at University of Pretoria and trained in General Internal Medicine and subsequently in Infectious Diseases at University of Cape Town.

He was appointed as an Infectious Diseases sub-specialist in the Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine at UCT in 2022 with a focus on building on an existing Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) service at Groote Schuur Hospital in partnership with IPC nurses, Occupational Health practitioners, Quality Assurance, and ward liaisons

Tari has also taken over as Director of the Cape Town GeoSentinel Travel Surveillance Network Site, which surveys travellers from South Africa and those visiting from abroad who act as sentinels for emerging and re-emerging infection

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For World Antibiotic Awareness Week 2023, we are focusing on setting up antimicrobial stewardship in low and middle income settings with limited resources and a high burden of antimicrobial resistance.

About our Guest:

Prenika Jaglal is a Clinical Microbiologist having obtained an FC Path(Micro) and a Master’s degree at UKZN. She is currently based at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, at the National Health Laboratory Services and is also has a joint appointment at the University of the Witwatersrand as an undergraduate/postgraduate lecturer.

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The Pathology Research and Development Congress (PathRed) is hosted by the National Health Laboratory Service every 2nd year. With a focus on Pathology disciplines, it is a fantastic meeting to learn about diagnostic advancements in Africa.

Ruan and I attended the meeting and were able to snatch a few interviews with speakers and delegates.

To learn more about PathRed, visit the congress website at: https://pathred.nhls.ac.za/

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The Pathology Research and Development Congress (PathRed) is hosted by the National Health Laboratory Service every 2nd year. With a focus on Pathology disciplines, it is a fantastic meeting to learn about diagnostic advancements in Africa.

Ruan and I attended the meeting and were able to snatch a few interviews with speakers and delegates.

To learn more about PathRed, visit the congress website at: https://pathred.nhls.ac.za/

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In this episode we have a discussion with ChatGPT focused on the communication of antimicrobial therapy to patients and unpack some of the potential pitfalls of large language model use in medicine.

Our Guest: (Bio generated by ChatGPT)

Our guest is ChatGPT, a machine learning model developed by OpenAI. As an AI, ChatGPT doesn't possess personal experiences or emotions but is designed to process and generate human-like text based on the data it has been trained on up to its last update.

ChatGPT is here to share synthesized information on communicating antimicrobial therapy, and while it strives for accuracy, it's always essential for listeners to consult healthcare professionals for medical advice. This AI model, built on the GPT-4 architecture, is continuously learning and adapting, and it is a part of the ongoing journey to understand the numerous ways artificial intelligence can aid in comprehending and discussing medical knowledge.

Join us as we explore this intersection of AI and medicine, reminding ourselves of the invaluable human element that guides and informs these technological tools in healthcare.

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About our Guest:

Sipho Dlamini completed his medical degree, Internal Medicine training and specialist Infectious Disease training at the University of Cape Town and Colleges of Medicine South Africa. His research interests are in HIV and Tuberculosis, the use of vaccines in persons living with HIV infection and on immune-mediated drug hypersensitivity reactions in persons living with HIV. Sipho’s research and clinical activities have provided him an opportunity to be involved many projects such as a study that identified a new dimorphic fungal infection (Emergomycosis africanus) in persons living with HIV. Professional memberships include FIDSSA, the Colleges of Medicine South Africa (CMSA) and the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID). Serves as a member of the National Immunisation Safety Expert Committee (NISEC) an advisory committee to the Minister of Health in South Africa, and member of the Professional Affairs Subcommittee (PAS) for ESCMID.

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Time to "idiot proof" the myth of bactericidal being better than bacteriostatic agents on

this collaborative episode with the ID_IOTS podcast.

About our Guest:

Jame and Callum are the hosts of the ID_IOTS podcast, an Infectious Disease podcast.

You can find them through https://idiotspodcasting.buzzsprout.com/share wherever you get your podcasts and also on Twitter as @IDiots_pod

References from this episode:

1. https://idiotspodcasting.buzzsprout.com/1782416/12537247-44-the-basics-of-beta-lactamase-inhibitors
2. Wald-Dickler N, Holtom P, Spellberg B. Busting the Myth of ‘Static vs Cidal’: A Systemic Literature Review. Clin Infect Dis. 2018 17;66(9):1470–4.
3. Use of bacteriostatic agents in Neutropenic fever: DOI: 10.1586/eri.09.11.
4. Jaksic B, Martinelli G, Oteyza JP, Hartman CS, Leonard LB, Tack KJ. Efficacy and Safety of Linezolid Compared with Vancomycin in a Randomized, Double-Blind Study of Febrile Neutropenic Patients with Cancer.
5. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2006 Mar 1;42(5):597–607
6. https://www.bradspellberg.com/shorter-is-better

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Upper respiratory tract infections constitute one of the most common acute illnesses evaluated, particularly in the peadiatric outpatient setting. On this episode of Microbe Mial, VIn chats to Dr Nosisa Sipambo about all things upper respiratory - and when antibiotics are indicated...and more importanely, when they are not!

About our Guest:

Dr Nosisa Sipambo is a paediatric infectious diseases specialist.  She is the head of Harriet Shezi Children’s Clinic (HSCC) and head of the paediatric infectious diseases unit at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital. HSCC has one of the largest cohorts of HIV-infected children and adolescents, over 9000 to date. The infectious diseases unit offers a services to all the admitted patients at CHBAH as well as running a primary immunodeficiency clinic. She is a passionate advocate of antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention and control.  

Qualifications: MBBCh (Wits) MMed (Paeds) Wits; FCPaed (SA); Cert ID (SA) Paed

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Yeasts are commonly isolated in clinical specimens, but they are significant in some specimens and not significant in others. There are also a variety of identification methods which can be used in the laboratory. On this episode, Vin chats to a fellow Microbiology podcaster - Luis Plaza of "Let's Talk Micro" about yeasts in clinical cultures.

About our Guest:

Luis Plaza

Hospital Corpsman in the United States Navy 2002-2010.       

Medical Laboratory Technician – United States Navy 2007-2010

Bachelor’s degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences from the University of Central Florida

(completed 2013)

Master’s in Microbiology and Cell Science – University of Florida (degree in progress)

Senior Medical Laboratory Technologist in Microbiology at Advent Health Orlando,

Florida (2013 -present)

Microbiology Instructor at the University of Central Florida. (2019- present)

Podcast creator and host of Let’s Talk Micro- 2021- present). Explaining Microbiology in simple terms. Meant to be used as an educational tool for everyone in Microbiology, from students to professionals. Available on all podcast platforms.

Contact Luis at: letstalkmicro@outlook.com

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Another fun game of "Would you Rather" but this time, we talk about some fantastic fungal options. Which would you rather choose...?

About our Guest:

Dr Lyle Murray is a Lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand and a Consultant in Infectious Diseases at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is a clinician scientist with a particular interest in the immunology of infectious diseases and the impact of HIV infection thereon. He completed his MBChB at the University of Cape Town and his specialist clinical training in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases at the University of the Witwatersrand. He did a DPhil (PhD) as a Rhodes Scholar in the Nuffield Depeartment of Clinical Medicine at Oxford University focussing  on the reconstitution of immunity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in individuals with HIV on antiretroviral therapy.

Dr Michael Vernon Cloete - I’m a Clinical Microbiology registrar based at the NHLS Microbiology Laboratory, University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. I trained as a medical undergraduate at Wits where I obtained my medical degree, going on to work in KwaZulu-Natal and here in Johannesburg for my internship and community service respectively. I’ve worked on national committees for Junior Doctors Association of South Africa and spent a lot of time at NICD here in Joburg in my community service year during the COVID-19 pandemic, where my love for microbiology was founded. I’ve always been fascinated by microbiological life, and am a passionate advocate for antimicrobial stewardship, novel therapy development and multidisciplinary care.

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Who knew that the Duke's criteria could be further modified? In Part 2, Vin and Ruan continue discussing infective endocarditis with the help of skilled cardiologist, Dr Raaesah Bhorat, this time discussing treatment: empiric, targeted and surgical therapy.

About our Guest:

Dr Raeesa Bhorat is a cardiologist at Sunninghill hospital, working as an interventional fellow under Professor Hellig. She completed her cardiology training at Groote Schuur hospital in 2024; and her interests include structural intervention and research in the application of artificial intelligence to cardiology, particularly the electrocardiogram. She completed her fellowship in internal medicine in 2019 and received her MBChB degree in 2013, cum laude.

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A multi- country outbreak of cholera was reported by the WHO in May 2023. Since the beginning of 2023, a total of 24 countries have reported cases. South Africa is among the countries affected by the outbreak.

To aid HCWs in identifying, diagnosing and treating cholera, Microbe Mail has put together this bonus episode on th rapid review of cholera.

About our Guest:

Dr Amanda Khumalo is a clinical microbiologist in the Department of Medical Microbiology NHLS Groote Schuur Hospital and the University of Cape Town. She has a passion for teaching and is involved in undergraduate and post graduate training. Her research interests include paediatric infectious disease and infection prevention and control.

Links to resources on Cholera:

www.nicd.ac.za/diseases-a-z-index/cholera/

https://www.health.gov.za/cholera/

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cholera

https://www.cdc.gov/cholera/index.html

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In this episode we discuss Dr Tom Boyles's new book: How to request a test: A clinician's guide to the interpretation and evaluation of medical tests

(https://global.oup.com/academic/product/how-to-request-a-test-a-clinicians-guide-to-the-interpretation-and-evaluation-of-medical-tests-9780192866615?cc=us&lang=en&)

Dr Tom Boyles – Short biography.

Dr Boyles qualified in medicine Oxford University in 2000 and moved to South Africa in 2007, where he spent 3 years as an HIV physician at Madwaleni hospital in the rural Eastern Cape. He trained as an infectious disease specialist in Cape Town from 2010-12 and continued to work at Groote Schuur Hospital until 2017 when he moved to Johannesburg. He currently works for Right to Care, the Clinical HIV Research Unit, and as a consultant at Helen Joseph Hospital. He maintains a passion for rural medicine and his research interests include appropriate diagnostic and treatment strategies for TB and the increased use of machine learning models to advance healthcare delivery in low resource settings.

Best care bundles are a set of practices tied together which are proven to prevent heathcare associated infections. Listen Vin has a chat with Lesley Devenish, a seasoned IPC nurse practitioner and teacher about these bundles.

About our Guest:

My basic nursing training was completed through the Rand Afrikaans University (now U.J.)

and post-grad courses through the University of South Africa. I started in Infection Control 25 years ago in the private sector. After gaining years of hospital experience, I moved into management and was head of Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) at the Netcare Group of hospitals for 11 years. I had loved the teaching part of my role at Netcare head office and pursued a more teaching-related role at Wits University and, although I am now semi-retired, still teach the IPC course through Wits Health Consortium. I am an avid reader and a very happy Granny, with four beautiful grandchildren.

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Have you ever played the game "Would you rather?" - listen to this episode to hear a virological take on this fun game. And more importantly - is there even a correct answer at all?

About our Guests:

Marvin Hsiao: is an associate professor and consultant virologist at University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Complex of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS). In addition to his virology training, Marvin holds a master’s degree in public health. His research interests are viral diagnostics, surveillance of viral diseases, epidemiology of viral diseases and health systems issues related to laboratory medicine. He received research funding from Poliomyelitis Research Foundation (PRF), SAMRC, NHLS Research Trust and Wellcome Trust. He is currently a member of PRF scientific advisory panel and NHLS virology expert committee.

He can be found on twitter @HsiaoMarvin tweeting virology and COVID-19 related issues or just general nonsense.

Moepeng Maseko: graduated with her MBChB from the University of Cape Town in 2016, she holds a Diploma in HIV Management from the Colleges of Medicine South Africa and is currently working as a Virology Registrar at  the National Health Laboratory Services at Groote Schuur Hospital/ UCT.

You can find her at:

LinkedIn : Moepeng Maseko

Instagram : @moe_eeezy

Simon Fraser: is currently an intern at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH). He graduated from the GEMP program at Wits (MBBCh) in 2021, following postgraduate studies in palaeontology as well as theology. He's a husband and father of 3, and also the host of the Dr Coffee podcast, for junior doctors and medical students in South Africa.

You can find him at:

https://linktr.ee/drcoffeeza

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One Health is a concept which described the health not only of humans, but also of the envionment and animals. Our Guest, Dr Yogandree Ramsamy tells us about its origins, who governs the principles and how it can be applied to antimicrobial resistance and everyday clinical practice.

About our Guest:

Dr Yogandree Ramsamy, a medical doctor with a specialization in medical microbiology (MBChB, MMedPath (Microbiology), FCPath(SA)(Microbiology), PhD), is currently a Senior Pathologist in Medical Microbiology at JDJ Diagnostics. As a recipient of the One Health AMR Fellowship from the Université Paris Cité and Fondation Mérieux, the Institut Mérieux-ICAN Young Investigator Award in antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the L’Oreal-UNESCO for Women in Science Award and the SEDRIC-Wellcome Trust Travel Scholarship, Dr Ramsamy is extremely passionate about AMR and implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs). Currently a member of several local and international committees related to Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) and Infection Prevention and Control, Dr Ramsamy is committed to the fight against AMR. She has served on the provincial KZN Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) Committee, promoting the concept of AMR and AMS within the KZN public health sector in line with the South African National AMR Strategy. Her Master’s focused on AMR, AMS and surveillance in the South African landscape and her PhD entailed investigating Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) in a One Health context. She is a honorary research fellow in the Antimicrobial Research Unit at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Her keen research interest in AMR, AMS and AMR surveillance has culminated in original research generating several publications + local and international conference presentations. Creating awareness of a bleak future without the prospects of lifesaving antimicrobials, mentoring up and coming individuals equally passionate about saving antimicrobials for future generations is one of her greatest ambitions.

You can find Yogandree at:

yogandree@gmail.com

Ramsamyy@ukzn.ac.za

yogandree@jdj.co.za

linkedin.com/in/yogandree-ramsamy-16a74a86

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Have you ever played the game "Would you Rather?" - listen to this episode to hear a microbial take on this fun game. And more importantly - is there even a correct answer at all?

About our Guests:

Dr Lauren Richards: I am a specialist physician with a sub-specialty in infectious diseases. I currently work at Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg in the internal medicine and infectious diseases departments. I obtained my MBBCh and MMED at Wits University. I love my job and am still finding my ID niche. I think ID is the most exciting, interesting and surprising specialty out there!

Follow Lauren on Twitter: @lolrichards

Dr Nokukhanya Khaniyle- Lenaka : a registrar in paediatrics at the University of the Witwatersrand, Khanya is also a social media influencer with > 150 000 followers on instagram. She is a keynote speaker, promoting physical and mental well-being . Khanya was nominated as one of the "100 most influential Young South Africans" in the Science and Technology category in 2019.

You can find her at:

• Social media: @dr_khanyile
• Tik Tok: @dr_khanyile_

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Microbe Mail recorded a collaborative episode with the ID:IOTS podcast. Jame, Callum and I talk about the challenge of multidrug resistant Gram negative bacterial infections, particularly from the perspective of a low- middle income setting, with poor access to the newer antimicrobial agents.

Callum is a medical microbiology and infectious diseases registrar working in Edinburgh, Scotland who has recently completed a medical education fellowship. Jame is an ex-Scottish newly Oxford, England, based infectious diseases and clinical pharmacology.

You can find Jame and Callum's podcast here: https://idiotspodcasting.buzzsprout.com/

Links:

References:

• Metallo-β-lactamase resistance in Enterobacteriaceae is an artefact of currently utilized antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods 
• Best practices: Appropriate use of the new β-
• lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations, ceftazidime-avibactam and ceftolozane-tazobactam in South Africa
• Colistin Monotherapy versus Colistin plus Meropenem Combination Therapy for the Treatment of Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Infection: A Meta-Analysis
• IDSA AMR Guidance
• ESCMID Gram Negative Treatment Guidelines

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What is HIV post exposure prophylaxis , who should get it and how should it be given. Vin and Ruan discuss these and other relevant issues related to this topic.

About our Guest:

Dr Avania Bangalee qualified as a pathologist in virology in 2018 with distinction and was awarded the Coulter Medal for Pathology in the CMSA examination.  She has experience working for large multinational and international organizations including Discovery, Novartis pharmaceuticals and the United States Peace Corps.  She has provided a diagnostic and clinical consultative service while employed with the National Health Laboratory serviceas a registrar and later as a pathologist. She has been instrumental in developing teaching programmes in the departments of Virology at the Universities of Witwatersrand and Pretoria and providing support for registrar teaching and learning including supervision of Master’s students.  She has published work in international and national peer-reviewed journals and presented at key conferences both locally and abroad.

Dr Bangalee currently serves as a Senior Medical Advisor: HIV Programmes at Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute

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Using aminoglycosides to treat infections often causes major distress amongst clinicians. Here we talk about how they should be used appropriately, in the hopes that we may calm some of this anxiety.

About our Guest:

Dr Veshni Pillay-Fuentes Lorente obtained an MBChB degree at Walter Sisulu University in 2010. Thereafter, completed a 2-year internship at King Edward VIII Hospital, Durban. Worked as a community service medical officer at the former Gordonia Hosptial, Upington. Thereafter, worked as a medical officer over a 4 year period in Internal Medicine at Dr Harry Surtie Hospital, Upington. Completed a 2 year post-graduate diploma in Medicines Development between 2016 - 2017 with the Division of Clinical Pharmacology at Stellenbosch University. Obtained a Masters of Medicine in Clinical Pharmacology and completed a 4-year clinical pharmacology training programme before qualifying as a Specialist Clinical Pharmacologist in 2021. Employed at present as a Clinical Pharmacologist in Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa. Currently an applied pharmacometrics training fellow (APT program) and a PhD candidate in Stellenbosch University Cape Town. My interests are PK in special populations and dose optimization through pharmacometrics.

14847795@sun.ac.za

Twitter: @JennalPillay

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Wondering what the microbial "match- made- in- heaven" is? This is the perfect drug - bug...or which antibiotic is best for which specific microbe. Listen to this episode to find out more.

About our Guest:

Michel completed his Undergraduate degree at UCT, and his FC Path(micro) in Dec 2021.  He completed his MMed(micro) in July 2022.  He is currently working as a consultant pathologist microbiology in the East Rand of Johannesburg with Ampath Laboratories.  His main interests are molecular microbiology, antimicrobial resistance mechanisms and the lab-clinician interface. 

Outside of work, he attempts amateur pottery, enjoys moderate outdoor hiking and friendly and competitive board games.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michel-le-grange-a5070229

Twitter: @microbelearning

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Who knew that the Duke's criteria could be further modified? In this episode, Vin and Ruan explore this update to the criterion and other critical aspects of diagnosing and managing infective endocarditis with the help of skilled cardiologist, Dr Raeesa Bhorat.

About our Guest:

Dr Raaesah Bhorat is a cardiologist at Sunninghill hospital, working as an interventional fellow under Professor Hellig. She completed her cardiology training at Groote Schuur hospital in 2024; and her interests include structural intervention and research in the application of artificial intelligence to cardiology, particularly the electrocardiogram. She completed her fellowship in internal medicine in 2019 and received her MBChB degree in 2013, cum laude

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Syphilis incidence is on the rise in South Africa and globally. How does one sensibly make a diagnose and manage a case of syphilis at the present time. I spoke to Dr Denasha Reddy about this.

About our Guest:

I am a South African consultant in internal medicine and infectious diseases and currently work at the largest tertiary hospital in the southern hemisphere, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH) in Soweto, Johannesburg. My clinical and research interests have been in healthcare-associated infections, antimicrobial stewardship (AMS), HIV-associated infections, tropical and travel-relatedinfections.

Linkedin link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denasha-reddy-ba5b5254/

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It's great to find a helpful learning resource. Here, I chat to the author of the book "Bacterial Genetics and Genomics", Prof Lori Snyder about the book, who it will be useful for and why this resource is different from others.

About our Guest:

Prof. Lori A. S. Snyder is a Professor in the School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy, and Chemistry at Kingston University, where she is involved in educating undergraduate and graduate students, as well as leading an active and collaborative research group. Prof. Snyder is also active in science outreach activities, including traveling lab visits, offering work experience to teenagers, and participating in public engagement events. Her research focuses on two main areas: combating antibiotic resistant infections and bacterial genetics and genomics. Her novel antimicrobials to stop infant blindness from multi-drug resistant bacterial infections have been featured in Wired (www.wired.co.uk/article/fight-against-super-gonorrhoea) and on the Sparks children’s charity YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQUl5-kC1OQ). Her use of bacterial genome sequence data to uncover new information about pathogens was featured in an interview on the Thermo Fisher Scientific YouTube channel about use of their sequencing system (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_ttuJ6l1hI&t=95s) and in 2013 her contributions were recognized by the Society for Applied Microbiology with the W H Pierce Prize (https://sfam.org.uk/resource/wh-pierce-2013-lori-snyder.html).

Prof. Snyder was twice elected to the Prokaryotic Division committee of the Microbiology Society and services on the Editorial Board of its journal Microbial Genomics, as well as contributing by reviewing many research publications and grant applications.

Find Prof Lori Snyder at:

Twitter: @DrLoriSnyder

Senior Editor: @CrumlyChuck

Publisher: @CRCPress

Book: https://www.routledge.com/Bacterial-Genetics-and Genomics/Snyder/p/book/9780815345695

Book – missing content https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3-euw1-ap-pe-ws4-cws-documents.ri-prod/9780815345695/9780815345695_missing_content.pdf

Book - support materials https://routledgetextbooks.com/textbooks/9780815345695/

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Microbe Mail reached its first birthday milestone. We've created a recap of the year's episodes with some important snippets from each episode.

Visit the Microbe Mail website to find all the episodes mentioned and to sign up for updates - updates on new episode releases and new storyboards

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Microbe Mail reached its first birthday milestone. We've created a recap of the year's episodes with some important snippets from each episode.

Visit the Microbe Mail website to listen to each of the full episodes mentioned here and also to sign up to receive updates of episode and storyboard releases.

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With the state of pregnancy and breastfeeding being such a fragile time, a number of myths have developed surrounding the state.

On this episode, Adj Prof Shastra Bhoora and Dr Jarrod Zamparini help me bust some of these myths.

About our Guests:

Dr Bhoora is a specialist obstetrician and gynaecologist with a sub-speciality in critical care. She currently heads the obstetrics critical care unit at Charlottle Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. She is affiliated with Baylor College in Texas as an Associate professor in maternal critical care.

Dr Bhoora’s interests involve the acute management of obstetrics, gynaecology and trauma emergencies. She has played an instrumental role during the COVID pandemic for obstetric patients. Pregnant women have unique disease processes and if treated timeously are resilient. Dr Bhoora is currently completing her masters in science reflecting on COVID-19 in pregnancy. She promotes IPC principles and AMS among this vulnerable group. She is a master trainer in ESMOE and is passionate about teaching and empowering young minds to advocate for impeccable maternal health care.

Instagram: shastra_bhoora

Twitter: @shastrabhoora 

Jarrod Zamparini is a Specialist Physician in the Department of Internal Medicine at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH) and a Lecturer in the Department of Internal Medicine at Wits.

Jarrod has a special interest in Obstetric Medicine and is in the process of establishing an Obstetric Medicine Unit at CMJAH which, in addition to providing an inpatient service, provides outpatient services in the Medical Problems in Pregnancy Clinic as well as the PMTCT clinic. Jarrod is a founding and executive member of the Society of Obstetric Medicine of South Africa and a member of the International Society of Obstetric Medicine.

Twitter: @JZamps

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Pregnancy is a state that makes many clinicians nervous - with disease processes and medication which can harm both mom and baby.

On this episode, I chat to Adj Prof Shastra Bhoora and Dr Jarrod Zamparini about some conundrums in diagnosing infections in pregnant women.

About our Guests:

Dr Bhoora is a specialist obstetrician and gynaecologist with a sub-speciality in critical care. She currently heads the obstetrics critical care unit at Charlottle Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. She is affiliated with Baylor College in Texas as an Associate professor in maternal critical care.

Dr Bhoora’s interests involve the acute management of obstetrics, gynaecology and trauma emergencies. She has played an instrumental role during the COVID pandemic for obstetric patients. Pregnant women have unique disease processes and if treated timeously are resilient. Dr Bhoora is currently completing her masters in science reflecting on COVID-19 in pregnancy. She promotes IPC principles and AMS among this vulnerable group. She is a master trainer in ESMOE and is passionate about teaching and empowering young minds to advocate for impeccable maternal health care.

Instagram: shastra_bhoora

Twitter: @shastrabhoora 

Jarrod Zamparini is a Specialist Physician in the Department of Internal Medicine at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH) and a Lecturer in the Department of Internal Medicine at Wits.

Jarrod has a special interest in Obstetric Medicine and is in the process of establishing an Obstetric Medicine Unit at CMJAH which, in addition to providing an inpatient service, provides outpatient services in the Medical Problems in Pregnancy Clinic as well as the PMTCT clinic. Jarrod is a founding and executive member of the Society of Obstetric Medicine of South Africa and a member of the International Society of Obstetric Medicine.

Twitter: @JZamps

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Do you know the real reason antibiotics are prescribed for 7 days or 14 days at a time? And how much evidence is there for that duration. Listen as host Vindana Chibabhai talks to Dr Kim Pieton (Roberg), an infectious Diseases physician about the length of the antibiotic course as Goldilocks would want it...not too long, not too short, but just right!

About our Guest:

I am the proud mother of two beautiful little girls, age 4 & 5, who provide daily laughter, insight and inspiration!

My work passion is infectious diseases - all infections fascinate me, with particular interest in viruses like Hepatitis C & HIV, bacteria like treponemes and tropical infections like malaria, schistosomiasis, and arboviruses.

I love working out the 'puzzle' - getting to a diagnosis (whether infectious or not) and all the steps it takes to get there. I also love the stories and history behind infections and the treatment of these diseases. Evolution to cure!

An infectious disease specialist remains one of the most fulfilling careers because of the huge satisfaction in diagnosing and being able to cure the vast majority of infections - and if not cure, certainly control to provide a long, happy, healthy, uncomplicated life!

In addition to children and work, I love cooking, flowers and gardening, reading fiction, entertaining friends and travelling to new countries.

Kim is on Facebook and Twitter: @Kim55254631

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There are some weird and wonderful things that the Microbiology laboratory technologist/technician sees behind the scenes in the infectious diseases diagnostics process. Here, host Vindana Chibabhai chats to Yola Tatoba, a technician at the Microbiology Laboratory based at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital about these weird and wonderful things.

About our Guest:

I am a Medical Technician at CMJAH Microbiology Laboratory NHLS. I've been working there for 9 years now. I participated in a few validations and EQA's. I also have a Law Diploma and studying towards my law degree. I enjoyed Microbiology up to this far.

I am on Instagram as @yolaokuhle

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Intravenous lines are an integral component of modern medical care. Can we imagine delivering care without it? However, they are not without harm. On this episode, host Dr Vindana Chibabhai talks to Dr Molebogeng Kolojane about catheter related bloodstream infections - what they are, risk factors, diagnosis, management...and of course, preventing them!

About our Guest:

Dr Molebogeng Kolojane is a Clinical Microbiologist at the National Health Laboratory Service and a lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. She is based at the Infection Control Services Laboratory (ICSL) at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH) in South Africa. Molebogeng is practicing as an outreach pathologist in the Johannesburg West Rand and Ekurhuleni District hospitals. Her special interests are in Infectious Diseases, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), and is involved in outbreak investigation, establishing antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs in outreach health care facilities and supports laboratories in district hospitals.

www.linkedin.com/in/molebogeng-conradine-kolojane-18b412124

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Cryptococcus species causes close to a quater of a million cases of severe disease and > 180 000 deaths...universally fatal if untreated. In this episode of MM, host Dr Vindana Chibabhai, chats to Prof Nelesh Govender about recent changes and expected changes in the diagnosis and management of Cryptococcal disease.

2022 WHO Cryptococcal Disease Management Guidelines here

ACTA Trial

Ambition Trial

About Prof Nelesh Govender:

I run a research group in medical mycology in South Africa, among a select few worldwide working in public health mycology. A major theme of my research is HIV-associated fungal diseases, many of which are life-threatening. My research activities span: 1) laboratory science (including characterisation of established/emerging fungal pathogens and diagnostic test development/evaluation), 2) population-based observational epidemiological studies, 3) cost-effectiveness modelling of public health interventions and treatments and 4) clinical trials. This research is aligned to my work as a centre head at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (www.nicd.ac.za) where I run South Africa’s national mycology reference laboratory. Our group serves as a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for antimicrobial resistance. Our public health research is primarily funded through NICD but also partly through grants from the US National Institutes of Health, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), CDC Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, UK Medical Research Council, UK National Institute for Health Research and NHLS Research Trust.

Twitter @neleshg

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In July, Ruan braved the AIDS-related Mycoses workshop held in Cape Town as the lone Microbe messenger. He attended sessions where speakers discussed novel findings in the epidemiology, prevention, diagnosis and therapy for some of the deadliest fungal infections globally. In this episode he and Vin take through some of the brief discussions he had with some of the enlightening researchers.

Meet our Guests:

• Dr Juan Louis Rodriguez Tudela MD, PhD
• Dr Michail Lionakis, M.D., Sc.D.
• Dr Felix Bongomin, M.D., MSc
• Prof Alessandro Pasqualotto, Professor of Infectious Diseases, with special interest in medical mycology and Fellow of the European Confederation of Medical Mycology.
• Dr Trevor Mnguni, MBChB,  FCP(SA), Cert Pulm(SA)
• Prof Joseph Jarvis, Consultant Physician and Epidemiologist at Botswana-UPenn Partnership and Honorary Senior Lecturer, LSHTM

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A very successful pathogen - one that causes a spectrum of disease, from asymptomatic to life-threatening. On this episode we talk about Group A Streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes), the various types of infections that it causes and how to manage them.

About our Guest:

Dr Yesholata Mahabeer is a principal pathologist currently based

at National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) KwaZulu Natal academic complex at

Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital in Durban. She studied medicine at the

University of KwaZulu Natal. She subsequently completed her fellowship in microbiology

in 1999 followed by Masters in Medical Microbiology in 2015. She has worked in

several laboratories NLHS laboratories in Durban over the past 20 years. She

currently oversees paediatrics, neurosurgery and haematology wards. Her interests

include neurosurgical infections, mycology and antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

She plays an active role in undergraduate and post graduate microbiology

training.

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Rapid molecular tests may assist in management of patients and assist in the fight against antimicrobial resistance, but they can be overused or misused. In order to optimise the test, there are a few do's and dont's when considering introducing these tests or requesting these tests.

About our Guest:

Dr Mohamed Said is a Clinical Microbiologist based at the

National Health Laboratory Services Tshwane Academic Laboratory in Pretoria,

South Africa. He is also a senior consultant at the Department of Medical

Microbiology at the University of Pretoria since 2016. He did his undergraduate

training at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa and

completed specialist training at the University of Pretoria.

He is actively involved in training of specialists in the field

of Medical Microbiology and also supervises Science students. He serves on

numerous committees within the National Health Laboratory Services as well as

the Pharmacy and therapeutics committee of the Steve Biko Academic Hospital in

Pretoria. He has published in peer reviewed journals in the fields of rapid

molecular diagnostics, Group B Streptococcus disease and infection prevention

and control. Dr Said has also presented his work at numerous national and

international conferences in the forms of posters and oral presentations.

Currently he is pursuing a PHD in the field of neonatal sepsis due to Group B

Streptococcus.

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Antimicrobial susceptibility testing comes in a number of different formats. On this episode, Microbe Mail host Dr Vindana Chibabhai speaks to Dr Warren Lowman about MICs - minimum inhibitory concentrations...how they are derived, why and when they are important to consider.

YOUR FEEDBACK ON THIS EPISODE – HERE!

About our Guest:

I am a pathologist in microbiology passionate about bugs with a particular focus on the

clinical application and integration of microbiological diagnostic services in specialized

medical care. Bacteriology is my first love and I have a particular interest in hospital

pathogens and the associated diagnostic and antimicrobial treatment aspects of these

bugs. Surveillance of hospital-acquired infections and the application of data derived

from hospital surveillance systems is another key focus area. I am actively involved in

these activities on a daily basis where I balance my time between laboratory-based

diagnostic work and clinical ward rounds focusing on ICU/transplant-related

microbiology and infection prevention and control aspects. I am actively involved in

numerous academic-related activities, am the current chairperson of the South African

Society of Clinical Microbiology, and am passionate about sharing knowledge in the

field.

Outside of work I am kept busy by my 3 sons, wonderful wife, nature, cooking and the

odd-game of golf!

Microbiological interests:

1. ICU-related antimicrobial therapy

a. Clinical/ patient issues related to pharmacodynamics and

pharmacokinetics.

b. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and its application to treatment of

critically ill patients

2. Transplant Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

3. Infection Prevention and Control

a. Hospital surveillance systems

b. Healthcare-associated pathogens

4. Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing

Links:

Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre LinkedIn and Facebook

Pathcare website and LinkedIn

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Multidrug resistant tuberculosis is a public health crisis. In 2020, only 1 in 3 people with drug resistant TB accessed treatment.

On this epsiode of Microbe Mail, Dr Sarah Stacey and I talk about treatment of MDR TB - why and how the regimens have changed, how to monitor patients on treatment and when to seek advice from an expert.

South African Rifampicin Resistant TB Treatment Guidelines

About our Guest: Dr Sarah Stacey

I am an infectious diseases specialist and I run a busy urban clinic at a tertiary site in Johannesburg and a busy infectious diseases ward – until a fire interrupted our services, that is… We are starting to get up and running again and hopefully will be back to capacity soon. The majority of our admissions to the infectious diseases ward are still HIV related and we still

see advanced disease in patients never on or defaulting ART. I have a broad range of interests within the scope of infectious diseases. I have an interest in improving and simplifying diagnostic tests in TB, particularly in HIV-positive patients in whom TB diagnosis continues to be challenging. I also have a particular interest in advancing proper antimicrobial stewardship and the implementation of programmes to improve antibiotic prescribing. I founded the CMJAH Antimicrobial Stewardship Programme and I and my colleagues on the committee are in the process of expanding the programme at the hospital which can be at times both rewarding and thankless... but a worthwhile fight!

instagram: sarahstacey15

twitter: @SarahLynnStace1

facebook: sarah.stacey.1297

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