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.

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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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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.

South African TB Guidelines can be found here

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About our Guest:

Dr Nina von Knorring is a Pathologist in Clinical Microbiology (FCPath) at the National Health Laboratory Service/University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. She is based at the Mycobacteriology Referral Laboratory in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, since 2019.

Nina trained in Germany and UK (MRCOG, Diploma in Genitourinary Medicine). Her subsequent employment as research clinician at the Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu Natal and Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute.

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This is part 2 of a two- part series detailing decontamination, disinfection and sterilisation in the healthcare setting.

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About our Guest:

Dr Teena Thomas is a clinical microbiologist. Her special interests are in infectious diseases, enhancing

infection prevention and control practices in the healthcare and community settings and improving diagnostic testing in her field. She works at the Infection Control Services Laboratory of the National Health Laboratory Services at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH) in Johannesburg. She is also a senior lecturer and researcher in the Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at Witwatersrand University.

Contact details: [email protected]

Researchgate link: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Teena-Thomas we talk about exactly this!

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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 exactly this!

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About our Guest:

Dr Teena Thomas is a clinical microbiologist. Her special interests are in infectious diseases, enhancing

infection prevention and control practices in the healthcare and community settings and improving diagnostic testing in her field. She works at the Infection Control Services Laboratory of the National Health Laboratory Services at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH) in Johannesburg. She is also a senior lecturer and researcher in the Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at Witwatersrand University.

Contact details: [email protected]

Researchgate link: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Teena-Thomas

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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 in the Intro here – “Global burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance in 2019: a systematic analysis” by Christopher JL Murray et al

YOUR FEEDBACK ON THIS EPISODE – HERE!

About our Guest:

Gary is a Paediatric Infectious Diseases subspecialist based at Rahima Moosa Mother & Child Hospital, Johannesburg. He heads one of the General Paediatric units at the hospital.

In addition, he holds representative positions with the Federation of Infectious Disease Societies of Southern Africa (FIDSSA), the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA), the Ministerial Advisory Committee for Antimicrobial Resistance, the Ministerial Advisory Committee for COVID-19 Therapeutics, and the National Essential Medicines List Committee (NEMLC). He is passionate about practicing and teaching evidence-based medicine within the fields of Paediatrics and Infectious Diseases.

Twitter:@garyreubenson

LinkedIn: https://za.linkedin.com/in/gary-reubenson-6565a626

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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 is based at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital NHLS Microbiology Laboratory.  

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About our Guest:

Dr Marianne Black holds an FCPath and MMed in Microbiology, and is a pathologist and lecturer in the Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (University of the Witwatersrand), based at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. She is a member of Charlotte Maxeke and Nelson Mandela Children’s hospital AMS committees. She previously held the position of pathologist at the NHLS mycobacteriology referral laboratory in Braamfontein (2016 – 2019).

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-black-34ba66102/

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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 speaks to Pulmonologist, Dr Erica Shaddock about diagnosing and managing CAP.

About our Guest: Erica Shaddock is a specialist Pulmonologist Pulmonologist at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital since 2009. Her special interests include COPD, Pneumonia , PCP and Covid-19. She is currently registered for her PhD focussing in the immune response and modulation in Pneumocystis pneumonia patients . She has been an integral member of the Covid-19 team at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. She is also a senior lecturer in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of the Witwatersrand.

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South African  Community Acquired pneumonia guidelines here

Access “Gender differences in community acquired pneumonia” article here