In this report we present laboratory-based data for all GIT molecular panels requested for patients at PathCare laboratories for the last two quarters (March to August 2024). We have included graphs and data for bacterial, viral and parasitic causes of diarrhoea....
Surveillance is an important tool to guide empiric therapy. Here we present the PathCare susceptibility data for the Eastern Cape for common community pathogens isolated from clinical specimens in 2023. As this data reflects the susceptibility of all isolates,...
This report presents laboratory data for last quarter (December 2023 to February 2024) obtained from GIT molecular panels requested for patients via PathCare laboratories. Graphs include bacterial, viral and parasitic causes of diarrhoea detected on these panels for...
Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) occurs in approximately 1% of all cases of total joint arthroplasty. To mitigate this complication, pre-operative management of patient risk factors are important to improve the outcome of surgery.Pre-operative screening and the...
Serum-biomarkers of infection such as CRP and ESR and synovial fluid leucocyte count and neutrophil percentage are useful tests to support the diagnosis of PJI. However, it is important to define the infecting micro-organism to direct antimicrobial therapy....
In the past, our knowledge of the epidemiology of infective diarrhoea in routine clinical practice, was incomplete because the traditional methods of microscopy and culture are insensitive and detect only a limited range of pathogens. The introduction of a more...
Pertussis is a highly infectious respiratory infection caused by Bordetella pertussis. It remains endemic in all countries, despite high vaccine coverage. Epidemic cycles are reported every 3 to 5 years. It affects people of all ages; however, young, unimmunised or...
Influenza, respiratory syncytial virus and SARS-CoV-2 - Influenza A detection rates continued to decline during July, dropping below 2% in week 30 (week ending 30 July). - Influenza B percentage positivity has remained below 1% throughout 2023 thus far. - RSV...
Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia) is an intravascular parasitic infection caused by flukes (trematodes) of the genus Schistosoma. Both S. haematobium and S. mansoni are endemic in South Africa in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, northern and eastern parts of Gauteng provinces and the...
Seasonal influenza is caused by influenza viruses which circulate worldwide, resulting in acute respiratory disease, predominantly during the winter months. Influenza virus is an enveloped virus with a segmented RNA genome. Laboratory and surveillance reports state...