Microbe Mail by Vindana Chibabhai

06.25.2024

Careers in Microbiology

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...

05.28.2024

"Would you rather?" The Antibiotics version

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...

05.07.2024

Appropriate use of β-lactam - β-lactamase inhibitor combination antibiotics

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...

04.16.2024

HIV in South Africa: Part 2

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,...

04.09.2024

HIV in South Africa: Part 1

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...

03.19.2024

HIV in the USA

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...

02.27.2024

No spleen, how mean! - Asplenia

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...

02.06.2024

Infections in people who inject drugs

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...

01.16.2024

Invasive Candidiasis

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....

11.21.2023

Antimicrobial Stewardship in Low to middle-income settings: trials, tribulations and triumphs

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...

11.07.2023

Highlights from the PathRed Congress 2023 - Part 2

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...

10.31.2023

Highlights from the PathRed Congress 2023 - Part 1

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...

10.10.2023

Communicating antimicrobial therapy to patients – a conversation with ChatGPT

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...

09.14.2023

2nd Anniversary special - Meningitis Q&A

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...

08.29.2023

MythBusting - Bactericidal versus Bacteriostatic with the ID:IOTS podcast

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. ...

08.08.2023

To treat or not to treat - upper respiratory tract infections

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...

07.18.2023

Hey Micro- there's a yeast in my culture

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...

06.27.2023

Would you Rather - Mycology

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...

06.23.2023

Cholera - Rapid Review

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...

06.06.2023

How to request a test with Tom Boyles

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...

05.16.2023

Best Care Bundles

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:...

04.25.2023

"Would you rather?" - the virology version

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: ...

04.04.2023

One Health

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...

03.14.2023

"Would you rather?" - the bacterial version

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: ...

02.20.2023

Bugs without Borders

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...

01.31.2023

HIV Post exposure prophylaxis

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...

01.10.2023

Appropriate use of aminoglycosides

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...

12.06.2022

Drug Bug Matching for microbes

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...

11.15.2022

Syphilis - Sense and Sensibility

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:...

10.25.2022

Book Review: Bacterial genetics and Genomics

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...

10.05.2022

Episode Recap 2 of 2

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...

09.13.2022

Episode Recap 1 of 2

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...

08.23.2022

Myth Busting Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

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....

08.02.2022

Obstacles in Obstetric Infections

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...

07.19.2022

Goldilocks and the course of antibiotics

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...

07.05.2022

Spilling the Micro Lab Beans

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...

06.21.2022

Walking the thin line - Catheter related bloodstream infections

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...

06.07.2022

Decrypting Cryptococcus

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...

05.24.2022

Group A Streptococcus

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....

05.10.2022

Rapid Molecular DIagnostic tests - do's and dont's

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...

04.26.2022

What's in an MIC?

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...

04.12.2022

Talking TB - MDR TB Management

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...

03.29.2022

Talking TB - Detangling Diagnostics

1.4 million people died from TB-related illnesses in 2019. In this episode of Microbe Mail, we are talking about diagnostic tests for TB – the right test, for the right patient, from the right specimen type, with the right interpretation....

03.15.2022

Part 2: Decontamination, disinfection, sterilisation. Which one, when?

This is part 2 of a two- part series detailing decontamination, disinfection and sterilisation in the healthcare setting. YOUR FEEDBACK ON THIS EPISODE – HERE! About our Guest: Dr Teena Thomas is a clinical microbiologist. Her special interests...

03.01.2022

Part 1 - Decontamination, disinfection, sterilisation. Which one, when?

Since it feels like an overwhelming amount of terminology and complexity, many of us may have a mental block against the terms decontamination, disinfection and sterilisation. But which one is used when? In this 2 part series, we talk about...

02.15.2022

Don't be left OUT_Antimicrobial Stewardship considerations for Outpatients

Did you know that 80% of antibiotic used are actually prescribed outside of the hospital setting? But how does one improve outpatient antibiotic use? Listen to this interview with Dr Gary Reuenson to find out. Read the article mentioned...

02.01.2022

Myth Busting - Urinary Tract Infections

There are so many misconceptions about the diagnosis and management of urinary tract infections! On this episode of Microbe Mail, host Vindana Chibabhai speaks to Dr Marianne Black – a Clinical Microbiologist about the 12 myths of UTIs. Marianne...

01.18.2022

Community acquired pneumonia tips and tricks

Lower respiratory tract infections are still the world’s most fatal communicable disease. Community acquired pneumonia specifically is one of the most common infections managed by clinicians in daily practice. On this episode of Microbe Mail, host Dr Vindana Chibabhai...

12.15.2021

Bonus Episode: 5 in 5 - MC&S

Microscopy, culture and susceptibility testing (MC&S;) is the most commonly requested test of a Microbiology Laboratory. Here, I give you 5 quick tips to remember when interpreting an MC&S; report. Visit the Microbe Mail website to sign up for...

12.07.2021

Sorting through Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia

Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia is associated with high morbidity and mortality but is often not diagnosed or managed appropriately. On this episode, the host of Microbe Mail, Dr Vindana Chibabhai, asks Dr Michelle Venter to answer important questions related to appropriate...