Medical Microbiology
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Plasmid-mediated mcr-1 colistin resistance in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. clinical isolates from the Western Cape region of South Africa
(BioMed Central, 2017-08-03)Background: Colistin is a last resort antibiotic for the treatment of carbapenem-resistant Gram negative infections. Until recently, mechanisms of colistin resistance were limited to chromosomal mutations which confer a ...
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Rationale and design of the African group A streptococcal infection registry : the AFROStrep study
(BMJ Publishing Group, 2016)Introduction: Group A β-haemolytic Streptococcus (GAS), a Gram-positive bacterium, also known as Streptococcus pyogenes, causes pyoderma, pharyngitis and invasive disease. Repeated GAS infections may lead to autoimmune ...
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Characteristics and outcome of children with juvenile dermatomyositis in Cape Town: a cross-sectional study
(BioMed Central, 2016-11-11)Background: Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is a rare idiopathic inflammatory childhood myopathy of uncertain aetiology. The demographic and clinical presentation of JDM may differ by race and geographic regions. Few ...
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Molecular characterization of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from various healthcare institutions in Nairobi, Kenya : a cross sectional study
(BioMed Central, 2016-09-20)Background: Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) has established itself over the years as a major cause of morbidity and mortality both within the community and in healthcare settings. Methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) ...
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The molecular epidemiology of pneumocystis jirovecii in Cape Town, South Africa
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2016-12)ENGLISH ABSTRACT : Pneumocystis jirovecii is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that causes Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) in immunocompromized hosts. PCP is associated with substantial morbidity, and mortality rates range ...
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Time for a culture change? suboptimal compliance with blood culture standards at a district hospital in Cape Town
(Health and Medical Publishing Group, 2015)Background. The benchmark for contaminated blood cultures (BCs) is 3%. The South African (SA) guideline aims to optimise BC yield and reduce contamination. Data on BC collection practices in SA since the publication of the ...
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Rapid diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis by use of lateral flow assay on cerebrospinal fluid samples : influence of the high-dose “hook” effect
(American Society for Microbiology, 2014)Cryptococcal meningitis is the most frequent cause of meningitis and a major cause of mortality in HIV-infected adults in Africa. This study evaluated the performance of the lateral flow assay (LFA) on cerebrospinal fluid ...
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The routine paediatric human immunodeficiency virus visit as an intervention opportunity for failed maternal care, and use of point-of-care CD4 testing as an adjunct in determining antiretroviral therapy eligibility
(Medpharm Publications, 2014)South African women and children remain at the centre of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pandemic, and maternal well-being plays a critical role in child health. In this study, we evaluated the impact of the paediatric ...
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Biomarkers of HIV-associated cancer
(Libertas Academica, 2014)Cancer biomarkers have provided great opportunities for improving the management of cancer patients by enhancing the efficiency of early detection, diagnosis, and efficacy of treatment. Every cell type has a unique molecular ...
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In vitro activity of tigecycline and comparators against Gram-positive and Gram-negative isolates collected from the Middle East and Africa between 2004 and 2011
(Elsevier, 2014)The Tigecycline Evaluation and Surveillance Trial (T.E.S.T.) was established in 2004 to monitor longitudinal changes in bacterial susceptibility to numerous antimicrobial agents, specifically tigecycline. In this study, ...
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National sentinel site surveillance for antimicrobial resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates in South Africa, 2010-2012
(Health & Medical Publishing Group, 2014-08)Background. The increasing rates of antimicrobial resistance observed in the nosocomial pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae are of major public health concern worldwide. Objectives. To describe the antibiotic susceptibility ...
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Molecular diagnostic approach to determine the degree of photoaging of the skin
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015-04)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Context: Excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV) results in the risk of acquiring long-term harmful effects such as photoaging, which is characterised by deep wrinkles, roughness, dyspigmentation ...
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A phenotypic and genotypic characterisation of strain types, virulence factors and agr groups of colonising Staphylococcus aureus associated with bloodstream infection
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015-03)ENGLISH ABSTRACT : Several studies investigating the molecular characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus have been conducted worldwide, however, in South Africa, most of these have focused on Methicillinresistant S. aureus ...
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Biofilm formation in invasive Staphylococcus aureus isolates is associated with the clonal lineage
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch UniversityElsevier, 2016-01)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Objectives: The ability to form biofilms contributes significantly to the virulence of Staphylococcus aureus. Virulence factors may be associated with certain S. aureus lineages. However, the contribution ...
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SDS interferes with SaeS signalling of Staphylococcus aureus independently of SaePQ
(Public Library of Science, 2013-08-20)The Staphylococcus aureus regulatory saePQRS system controls the expression of numerous virulence factors, including extracellular adherence protein (Eap), which amongst others facilitates invasion of host cells. The saePQRS ...
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Antibiotic stewardship ward rounds and a dedicated prescription chart reduce antibiotic consumption and pharmacy costs without affecting inpatient mortality or re-admission rates
(Public Library of Science, 2013-12-09)Background Antibiotic consumption is a major driver of bacterial resistance. To address the increasing burden of multi-drug resistant bacterial infections, antibiotic stewardship programmes are promoted worldwide to ...
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Pneumocystis pneumonia in South African children diagnosed by molecular methods
(BioMed Central, 2014-01)Abstract Background Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is an important cause of hospitalization and mortality in HIV-infected children. However, the incidence of PCP has been underestimated ...
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Management of uncomplicated malaria
(Health and Medical Publishing Group (HMPG), 2008-06)The key issues in the successful management of malaria are early and accurate diagnosis and urgent treatment with effective drugs. Disease presentation is, however, not specific – progression to complicated disease may ...
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Sarcomeric modifiers of hypertrophy in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2013-03)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an independent predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and allcause mortality. Significantly, it is considered a modifiable cardiovascular risk factor as its regression ...
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Treatment and prevention of trichuriasis : efficacy of albendazole in disadvantaged children at Rawsonville Primary School, Western Cape Province, South Africa
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2000-12)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Children in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities in the Western Cape and elsewhere in South Africa are frequently infected by Trichuris trichiura. Although albendazole and mebendazole are listed as ...
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The relevance of apoptosis in the pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus-1 disease
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2004-12)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A simple and rapid scatter-based flow cytometric assay was developed to detect apoptosis in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from a mixed population of cells. The assay was suitable for children. Apoptotic PBMCs ...
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Development and validation of stabilized whole blood samples expressing T-cell activation markers as quality control reference material
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2008-03)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Introduction: Flow cytometry has progressively replaced many traditional laboratory tests due to its greater accuracy, sensitivity and rapidity in the routine clinical settings especially clinical trails. ...
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Development and validation of an in vitro model of dendritic cell identification and activation
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2008-03)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of MBV and Coley’s Toxin on dendritic cells in vitro. The dendritic cell system of antigen presenting cells is the initiator and modulator of the ...
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Longitudinal investigation of vaccine specific antibody levels and cellular markers of adaptive immune responses in HIV Exposed Uninfected (HEU) and Unexposed (UE) infants
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2012-03)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background: In South Africa alone, 30% of women of child-bearing age are infected with HIV. With the increasing focus and success of prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programmes, an ...
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Biofilm formation and adherence characteristics of an Elizabethkingia meningoseptica isolate from Oreochromis mossambicus
(BioMed Central, 2011-05-05)ABSTRACT: Background. Elizabethkingia spp. are opportunistic pathogens often found associated with intravascular device-related bacteraemias and ventilator-associated pneumonia. Their ability to exist as biofilm structures ...
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The intimate relationship between man and yeast : it's complicated
(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2011-06)Inaugural address delivered on 6 June 2011 by prof Alf Botha.Yeasts public health service; resource allocation; have been associated with mankind’s welfare for a long time. For millennia these unicellular fungi were ...
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An appraisal of the uricult dip slide method in the diagnosis of urinary infections
(HMPG, 1973-05)Uricult dip slide urine cultures were compared with standard laboratory plate cultures. Good agreement of bacterial counts was obtained after incubation at 37°C but not at room temperature. Tests of therapeutic activity ...
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Antibiotic-resistant Serratia marcescens infection in a hospital
(HMPG, 1979-04)Over a 12-month period, 74 isolates of Serratia marcescens were obtained from various sources at Tygerberg Hospital. The majority of these isolates were from catheterized patients with urinary tract infections, and ...
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Involving African traditional health practitioners in HIV/AIDS interventions
(Health and Medical Publishing Group (HMPG), 2008)[No abstract available]
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