Microbe Mail

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: I am a South African consultant in internal medicine and infectious diseases and currently work at the largest tertiary hospital in the southern hemisphere, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic H...

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 others. About our Guest: Prof. Lori A. S. Snyder is a Professor in the School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy, and Chemistry at Kingston University, where she is involved in educating...

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 - updates on new episode releases and new storyboards E-mail: mail.microbe@gmail.com Instagram: Microbe_Mail   Twitter: @microbemail Facebook: Microbe Mail

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 to sign up to receive updates of episode and storyboard releases. E-mail: mail.microbe@gmail.com Instagram: Microbe_Mail   Twitter: @microbemail Facebook: Mi...

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. About our Guests: Dr Bhoora is a specialist obstetrician and gynaecologist with a sub-speciality in critical care. She currently heads the obstetrics critical care unit at...

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 in diagnosing infections in pregnant women. About our Guests: Dr Bhoora is a specialist obstetrician and gynaecologist with a sub-speciality in critical care. She currently...

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 Diseases physician about the length of the antibiotic course as Goldilocks would want it...not too long, not too short, but just right! About our Guest: I am the proud mother of two...

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 Johannesburg Academic Hospital about these weird and wonderful things. About our Guest: I am a Medical Techni...

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 - what they are, risk factors, diagnosis, management...and of course, preventing them! About our Guest: Dr Molebogeng Kolojane is a...

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 to Prof Nelesh Govender about recent changes and expected changes in the diagnosis and management of Cryptococcal disease. 2022 WHO Cryptococcal Disease Management Guidelines here ACTA Trial Ambition Tri...

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 aca...

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 Tshw...

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. YOUR FEEDBACK ON THIS EPISODE – HERE! About our Guest: I am a pathologist in microbiology passionate about bugs with a parti...

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...

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 YOUR FEEDBACK ON THIS EPISODE - HERE ! About our Guest: Dr Nina von Knorring is a Pathologist in Clinical Microbiol...

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 are in infectious diseases, enhancing infection prevention and control practices in the healthcare and community settings and improving diagnostic testing...

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! YOUR FEEDBACK ON THIS EPISODE – HERE! About our Guest: Dr Teena Thomas is a clinical microbiologist. Her special interests are in infectious dise...

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 EPISO...

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.   YOUR FEEDBACK ON THIS EPISODE – HERE!! About o...

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 Pulmo...

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 updates. Follow on social media to see our episode storyboards and more… E-mail: mail.microbe@gmail.com YouTube: Microbe Mail Instagram: Microbe_Mail...

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 diagnosis and management of SAB. Here is a link to the SAASP Guidelines Visit the Microbe Mail website to sign up for updat...

This is an important episode highlighting the concern of antimicrobial resistance (AMR and how to use antimicrobial appropriately (through antimicrobial stewardship) to combat AMR. In this episode of Microbe Mail, host Dr Vindana Chibabhai (Vin) chats to Sonya Kolman, a clinical pharmacist based at the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa about what makes antimicrobials...

In this episode of Microbe Mail, host Vindana Chibabhai (Vin) chats to Prof Guy Richards about searching for the source of infection. Prof Richards shares his clever and easy to follow mnemonic with listeners as well as a step by step guide to searching for the source. Visit the Microbe Mail website to sign up for updates. Follow on social media to see our episode storyboards and more… E-mail: mai...

Do you sometimes look at a Microbiology report and wonder if the microbiologist made up the tongue-twister of a microbe name you’re reading on the report? In this episode, we unpack the differences between contaminants, commensals and colonisers in the common specimen types – urine, respiratory samples and blood cultures. Spotlight feature: mini microbe message Visit the Microbe Mail website to si...