Microbe Mail

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: [email protected]

Follow Lets Talk Micro on instagram and Twitter

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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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