Research Articles (Medical Microbiology)
Recent Submissions
-
The effect of storage conditions on microbial communities in stool
(Public Library of Science, 2020)Microbiome research has experienced a surge of interest in recent years due to the advances and reduced cost of next-generation sequencing technology. The production of high quality and comparable data is dependent on ... -
The association between pathogen factors and clinical outcomes in patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia in a tertiary hospital, Cape Town
(Elsevier on behalf of International Society for Infectious Diseases, 2019-11-29)Background: Staphylococcus aureus is a serious pathogen, able to cause life-threatening infections such as bacteraemia. The association between S. aureus microbial characteristics and clinical outcomes is under- investigated ... -
The prevalence and molecular mechanisms of mupirocin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus isolates from a Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa
(BMC (part of Springer Nature), 2020-03-14)Abstract Background: Antimicrobial resistance is an increasingly serious problem in public health globally. Monitoring resistance levels within healthcare and community settings is critical to combat its ongoing increase. ... -
B-cell and T-cell activation in South African HIV-1-positive non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients
(Medpharm Publications, 2018)Background: Altered immune mechanisms play a critical role in the pathogenesis of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). HIV-1 (HIV) infection is associated with a state of excessive T-cell activation, which can lead to increased ... -
One Health approach in the prevention and control of mycobacterial infections in Tanzania : lessons learnt and future perspectives
(BMC (part of Springer Nature), 2019-11-27)Background: One Health (OH) is an integrated approach, formed inclusive of using multiple disciplines to attain optimal health for humans, animals, and the environment. The increasing proximity between humans, livestock, ... -
Laboratory based antimicrobial resistance surveillance for Pseudomonas aeruginosa blood isolates from South Africa
(Journal of Infection in Developing Countries, 2018)Introduction: Antimicrobial resistant bacterial infections are widespread globally and increases in antimicrobial resistance presents a major threat to public health. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic healthcare ... -
Whole-genome sequence of a mycobacterium goodii isolate from a pediatric patient in South Africa
(American Society for Microbiology, 2018)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: We describe here the draft genome sequence of a Mycobacterium goodii isolate from a pediatric patient in Western Cape, South Africa. To our knowledge, this is the second reported genome of this rapidly ... -
Xenorhabdus khoisanae SB10 produces Lys-rich PAX lipopeptides and a Xenocoumacin in its antimicrobial complex
(BMC (part of Springer Nature), 2019-06-13)Background: Xenorhabdus spp. live in close symbiosis with nematodes of the Steinernema genus. Steinernema nematodes infect an insect larva and release their symbionts into the haemocoel of the insect. Once released into the ... -
Surveillance of healthcare-associated infection in hospitalised South African children : Which method performs best?
(Health & Medical Publishing Group, 2017)Background. In 2012, the South African (SA) National Department of Health mandated surveillance of healthcare-associated infection (HAI), but made no recommendations of appropriate surveillance methods. Methods. Prospective ... -
Stool culture for diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in children
(American Society for Microbiology, 2017-12)Bacteriological confirmation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is achieved in the minority of young children with tuberculosis (TB), since specimen collection is resource intensive and respiratory secretions are mostly ... -
Laboratory-acquired infections of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi in South Africa : phenotypic and genotypic analysis of isolates
(BioMed Central, 2017-9)Background: Workers in clinical microbiology laboratories are exposed to a variety of pathogenic microorganisms. Salmonella species is among the most commonly reported bacterial causes of laboratory-acquired infections. ... -
First report of Wohlfahrtiimonas chitiniclastica bacteraemia in South Africa
(Health & Medical Publishing Group, 2016)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: No abstract available -
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 ... -
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 ... -
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 ... -
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) ... -
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 ... -
Role of infection control in combating antibiotic resistance
(Health & Medical Publishing Group, 2015)Infection control has been identified as one of the key interventions in controlling the threat of antibiotic resistance. Reducing the transmission of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) reduces the need for broad-spectrum ... -
Obesity is associated with increased seminal insulin and leptin alongside reduced fertility parameters in a controlled male cohort
(BioMed Central, 2014)Background: Obesity appears to be associated with male reproductive dysfunction and infertility, although this has been inconsistent and inconclusive. Insulin and leptin are known mediators and modulators of the ... -
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 ...