Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases最新文献

{"title":"Mortality trends and causes of death in a South African hospital complex pre- and during COVID-19.","authors":"Khanyisile M Tshabalala, Inger Fabris-Rotelli, Debashis Basu, Magriet Myburgh, Fareed Abdullah","doi":"10.4102/sajid.v40i1.679","DOIUrl":"10.4102/sajid.v40i1.679","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Before coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), global health was improving, with declining mortality trends. The pandemic disrupted this progress, increasing mortality in South Africa between April 2020 and March 2022. Pre-pandemic data establishes a baseline for assessing COVID-19's impact on all-cause mortality.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study examines changes in hospital-based mortality trends in a Gauteng hospital complex from April 2018 to March 2022, addressing the scarcity of such studies during the COVID-19 era.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A retrospective review of 7815 deaths from April 2018 to March 2022 was conducted. Chi-squared tests were used to analyse deaths by age group and gender, with correlations reported.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Mortality rates rose from 3.2% in 2018-2019, peaked at 5.1% in 2020-2021, and declined to 4.2% in 2021-2022. Patients aged 15 years-64 years had the highest death rates, with an increase among those over 65. Male deaths exceeded female deaths, with the smallest difference observed in 2020-2021. Leading causes of death included diseases of the circulatory and respiratory systems, neoplasms, digestive system diseases, and infectious and parasitic diseases.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study highlights COVID-19's impact on mortality, showing variations by year, age, gender, and disease.</p><p><strong>Contribution: </strong>Excess non-COVID-19 deaths likely stemmed from disrupted healthcare services. These findings underscore the need for ongoing monitoring of hospital mortality to identify pandemic-related service disruptions and guide interventions to strengthen healthcare services, improve access to care, and enhance referral systems during unexpected disasters.</p>","PeriodicalId":44007,"journal":{"name":"Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases","volume":"40 1","pages":"679"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11966701/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143781414","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Type and antibiotic susceptibility of bacteria cultured in paediatric acute appendicitis.","authors":"Elizabeth Brits, Estie Kruger, Karlize Fivaz, Koot Oosthuizen, Mariska Joubert, Petro-Mari van Pletzen, Ronelle Roux, Tahlita Fourie, Trewhella van Aswegen, Joseph B Sempa, Susanna le Grange","doi":"10.4102/sajid.v40i1.689","DOIUrl":"10.4102/sajid.v40i1.689","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Studying the microbial profile and their antibiotic resistance in paediatric appendicitis is essential for tracking susceptibility, guiding treatment choices and ensuring effectiveness. Understanding variations in therapies can improve outcomes and reduce complications. Despite its importance, limited research has been conducted in South Africa on microbial profiles and antibiotic resistance in paediatric appendicitis.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To identify bacteria cultured from pus specimens obtained from paediatric patients with acute appendicitis and determine their antibiotic susceptibility.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>This was a prospective case series of children aged 13 years and younger, who had appendectomies for acute appendicitis. Data were collected via REDCap and analysed using R software. Pus swabs were obtained for microscopy, culture and sensitivity of organisms isolated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study comprised 20 patients, of whom 12 (60%) were male. Most cases (<i>n</i> = 17; 85%) were complicated appendicitis. <i>Escherichia coli</i> was the most prevalent bacterial species isolated, accounting for 60% of cases, while no bacterial growth was observed in 30% of cases. All the isolates (100%) were susceptible to cefepime, gentamicin, amikacin, ertapenem, imipenem and meropenem, while high sensitivity rates of 92.9% were found for ciprofloxacin, ceftazidime and piperacillin-tazobactam. Short-term complications (predominantly surgical site infections) were present in 6 patients (30%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong><i>Escherichia coli</i> was the most common bacterium in paediatric acute appendicitis, with all isolates sensitive to ciprofloxacin.</p><p><strong>Contribution: </strong>Regional monitoring and research are useful to adapt protocols and combat increasing antibiotic resistance.</p>","PeriodicalId":44007,"journal":{"name":"Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases","volume":"40 1","pages":"689"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11886553/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143587625","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antibiotic prescribing in public primary healthcare centres in Maseru, Lesotho.","authors":"Mapoloko A Letša, Johanita R Burger, Irma Kotzé","doi":"10.4102/sajid.v40i1.692","DOIUrl":"10.4102/sajid.v40i1.692","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics is a global problem. We assessed the prescribing patterns of antibiotics in three public primary healthcare centres (PHCCs) in Maseru, Lesotho.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>A cross-sectional point prevalence survey was employed using patients' prescription booklets from October 2022 to December 2022.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Antibiotics were categorised according to the World Health Organization (WHO) AWaRe classification and assessed by Defined Daily Dose (DDD)/100 outpatients/day to measure relative consumption of each antibiotic as a percentage of total consumption, Access-to-Watch index (AW-I) and Amoxicillin Index (A-I).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 624 participants (median age 35 [interquartile range {IQR}: 45-26] years), 71.5% (<i>n</i> = 446) were female. Overall mean (standard deviation [s.d.]) antibiotic consumption was 1.48 (0.13) DDD/100 outpatients/day, with PHCC-1 at 1.64, PHCC-2 at 1.33 and PHCC-3 at 1.47 DDD/100 outpatients/day. The median (IQR) AW-I was 4.64 (3.42-9.45) and the A-I was 1.41 (0.87-1.95). The most frequently prescribed Access group antibiotics included amoxicillin (PHCC-2: 45.9%, overall 1.33 DDD/100 outpatients/day; PHCC-3: 24.5%, 1.47 DDD/100 outpatients/day, and PHCC-1: 23.2%, 1.64 DDD/100 outpatients/day) and doxycycline (PHCC-3: 29.9%, 1.47 DDD/100 outpatients/day, 24.1%, PHCC-2: 1.33 DDD/100 outpatients/day). Erythromycin was the most prescribed Watch group antibiotic for all PHCCs.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>High consumption of Access-group antibiotics was observed. The Watch group's antibiotic use, particularly erythromycin, requires the implementation of stewardship programmes. Results may be a baseline for establishing antibiotic stewardship in Lesotho's PHCCs.</p><p><strong>Contribution: </strong>Our study addressed the scarcity of data on antibiotic prescribing patterns in PHCCs in Lesotho using the AWaRe classification system recommended for monitoring antibiotic prescribing and promoting rational use.</p>","PeriodicalId":44007,"journal":{"name":"Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases","volume":"40 1","pages":"692"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11886583/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143587658","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Aetiology of haemorrhagic cystitis: BK Polyomavirus and Adenovirus detection.","authors":"Yoliswa Z Chili, Menzi B Nkosi, Nicky-Louise Byrne, Moepeng J Maseko, Stephen N J Korsman, Gert U van Zyl","doi":"10.4102/sajid.v40i1.685","DOIUrl":"10.4102/sajid.v40i1.685","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This case report details haemorrhagic cystitis in a 49-year-old female with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), recurrent haematuria and detected BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) and adenovirus (HAdV) in urine. During chemotherapy cycles, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays found high HAdV load, similar to a HAdV-B2 genotype 78, a rare genotype that is closely related to HAdV-11.</p><p><strong>Contribution: </strong>Viral interactions reveal immune system vulnerabilities.</p>","PeriodicalId":44007,"journal":{"name":"Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases","volume":"40 1","pages":"685"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11886550/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143587655","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Favourable outcome of <i>Fusarium</i> prosthetic valve endocarditis in a patient with an Ebstein anomaly.","authors":"Scott G Lee-Jones, Stefan van der Westhuizen, Johannes Taljaard, Nelesh P Govender, Rubina Razack","doi":"10.4102/sajid.v40i1.699","DOIUrl":"10.4102/sajid.v40i1.699","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fungal endocarditis is rare, challenging to diagnose and treat and associated with high mortality. We describe a case of <i>Fusarium solani</i> endocarditis in a patient with Ebstein's anomaly with a favourable outcome.</p><p><strong>Contribution: </strong>We emphasise that surgical intervention with source control of the infective vegetation is still the mainstay of treatment and highlight the importance of submitting infected source material for histology, culture and molecular testing to identify the causative organism.</p>","PeriodicalId":44007,"journal":{"name":"Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases","volume":"40 1","pages":"699"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11886575/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143587661","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) colonisation as a predictor for subsequent CRE infection: A retrospective surveillance study.","authors":"Courtney M Tubb, Marco Tubb, Jonathan Hooijer, Rispah Chomba, Jeremy Nel","doi":"10.4102/sajid.v40i1.687","DOIUrl":"10.4102/sajid.v40i1.687","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales colonisation is an important prerequisite for infection, and its surveillance is crucial to reduce spread. However, data from South Africa are limited.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>We aimed to determine CRE colonisation prevalence, the incidence of subsequent CRE infections and the risk factors associated with each.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>We retrospectively reviewed hospital records from 686 patients admitted to a medical high-care ward at a tertiary hospital in Gauteng, South Africa, between October 2019 and May 2022. Patients were grouped by CRE colonisation status on arrival and discharge. Data on comorbidities, indwelling devices and antibiotic exposure were collected.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The prevalence of CRE colonisation was 12.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 10.1-15.1), with <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> (81.2%) being the most common CRE isolated and OXA-48-like enzymes (94.5%) being the most frequent carbapenemase detected. Risk factors for CRE colonisation on the univariate analysis included exposure to antibiotics (odds ratio [OR]: 2.21; 95% CI: 0.98-4.96, <i>P</i> = 0.048) and presence of a central venous line (OR: 6.33; 95% CI: 1.78-22.46, <i>P</i> = 0.001). Of patients colonised with a CRE, 21.2% subsequently developed a culture-positive infection within 180 days from the initial colonisation result and the majority within 30 days. These infections were mostly CREs (OR: 4.0, 95% CI: 1.3-12.7), and where the infections were CREs, the causative CRE organism and carbapenemase subtype were identical in each case.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our study documented higher CRE prevalence rates than those previously reported from South Africa. Given the association between CRE colonisation and subsequent infection, urgent measures are required to reduce CRE colonisation rates. As the organism and carbapenemase detected in the initial colonisation and subsequent CRE infection were closely related, knowledge of prior CRE colonisation may assist clinicians with antibiotic choice if patients present with an infection within 30 days of CRE colonisation.</p><p><strong>Contribution: </strong>This study reports higher CRE colonization rates in South Africa than previously documented, highlighting the urgent need to reduce colonization. The close genetic link between CRE colonization and subsequent infection suggests that knowledge of prior colonization can guide clinicians in selecting effective antibiotics, particularly for infections occurring within 30 days. These findings support targeted interventions to address the rising CRE threat.</p>","PeriodicalId":44007,"journal":{"name":"Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases","volume":"40 1","pages":"687"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11830835/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143450665","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Attitudes of healthcare workers at a District in KwaZulu-Natal regarding institutionalisation of antimicrobial stewardship.","authors":"Andile P Dlungele, Lehlohonolo Mathibe","doi":"10.4102/sajid.v40i1.677","DOIUrl":"10.4102/sajid.v40i1.677","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) programme is one of the strategic initiatives of the World Health Organization's global action plan to reduce antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In sub-Saharan countries, there is insufficient scientific evidence regarding healthcare providers' perception of institutionalisation of ASPs as a strategy to reduce AMR.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study investigated the knowledge, attitudes and practices of healthcare workers in the uMgungundlovu District regarding the enablers and barriers to institutionalisation of AMS programmes in public health settings.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>This was a prospective, cross-sectional and a 5-point-Likert-scale (1 = minimal; 2 = limited; 3 = average; 4 = good and 5 = comprehensive) questionnaire-based arm of a larger mixed-methods study. Voluntary participants were purposively recruited from hospitals and community health centres in the uMgungundlovu District, South Africa.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Forty-nine (<i>N</i> = 49) participants were recruited. That is, 33% (<i>n</i> = 16), 28% (<i>n</i> = 14), 25% (<i>n</i> = 12) and 14% (<i>n</i> = 7) were nurses, pharmacists as well as pharmacist interns, medical practitioners and healthcare managers, respectively. Eighty percent (<i>n</i> = 40; median score 5, interquartile range [IQR] 4-5) and 67% (<i>n</i> = 33; median score 4, IQR 3-4) of participants felt that they had a key role in reducing antibiotic resistance; and good knowledge of antimicrobials as well as AMS programmes, respectively. However, participants who had been employed for less than 12 months across all the facilities had 'limited' knowledge (median score of 2; IQR 1-3.5) of antimicrobials and AMS programmes.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Healthcare workers in public healthcare settings in the uMgungundlovu District knew how crucial their roles were in reducing AMR.</p><p><strong>Contribution: </strong>This study highlights the need for employment experience and adequate healthcare service providers as critical factors for the successful institutionalisation of AMS programmes in public health facilities.</p>","PeriodicalId":44007,"journal":{"name":"Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases","volume":"40 1","pages":"677"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11830888/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143450718","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Access and utilisation of leprosy healthcare services in high-burden districts in Ethiopia.","authors":"Solomon S Marrye, Simangele Shakwane","doi":"10.4102/sajid.v39i1.664","DOIUrl":"10.4102/sajid.v39i1.664","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>A lack of awareness, poor quality of care, and gender inequalities are factors associated with access and utilisation of leprosy services.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to identify factors affecting community access and utilisation of leprosy services in high-burden districts of Ethiopia.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A community-based cross-sectional study design was utilised and a simple random sampling technique was used to recruit study respondents. One hundred and sixty-one respondents completed the self-administered structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using SPSS version 26. A logistic regression model was used to identify predictors associated with leprosy services. A <i>p</i>-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>More than 75% (<i>n</i> = 123) of study respondents had limited knowledge about leprosy. However, respondents who reside in urban areas were knowledgeable about the disease (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 8.2; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.6, 42.0). Men were most likely to use health care facilities (AOR [95% CI] = 2.9 [1.2, 7.2]). In addition, those who had better household income were more likely to have examined their family members for leprosy compared to low-income families (AOR [95% CI] = 4.5 [1.6, 12.9]).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>General knowledge about leprosy was low in communities. However, persons infected with leprosy who resided in the urban areas had a better understanding of leprosy. Male persons infected with leprosy were more likely to utilise leprosy services.</p><p><strong>Contribution: </strong>The results of this study provide early insights into the factors associated with leprosy service utilisation to provide community-centred leprosy care.</p>","PeriodicalId":44007,"journal":{"name":"Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases","volume":"39 1","pages":"664"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11736567/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143013655","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhanced pathogen identification among patients with clinically suspected meningitis.","authors":"Malefu Moleleki, Pieter Nel, Siphiwe R Matukane, Stephanie Cloete, Zayaan Abrahams, Nicole Wolter, Andrew C Whitelaw","doi":"10.4102/sajid.v39i1.688","DOIUrl":"10.4102/sajid.v39i1.688","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Delayed or incorrect treatment of meningitis may result in adverse patient outcomes. However, laboratory testing in resource-limited settings is often limited to conventional diagnostic methods. We explored the utility of syndromic molecular assays for diagnosis.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>We tested cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens collected from patients with clinically suspected meningitis submitted to a tertiary hospital laboratory in January 2021 - May 2021. Primary microbiological analysis (culture, Gram stain and cytochemical analysis) was performed as part of routine testing.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Residual CSF specimens were tested using a bacterial triplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay and a syndromic multi-pathogen real-time PCR assay for the detection of up to 18 bacterial and viral pathogens. Pathogen detection was compared between conventional and molecular assays.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A potential pathogen was detected in 6% (12/188) and 47% (89/188) of specimens on the triplex and the multi-pathogen assay, respectively. Epstein-Barr virus (49/188; 26%), human herpes virus 7 (22/188; 12%), herpes simplex virus 1 (13/188; 7%) and <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i> (10/188; 5%) were the leading pathogens detected on the syndromic multi-pathogen PCR. Further, using the multi-pathogen PCR assay, a potential pathogen was detected in 44% (73/166) of the specimens which were negative following routine testing. Overall, combining routine testing and molecular platforms significantly improved pathogen detection (<i>p</i> < 0.001); a potential pathogen was identified in 51% (95/188) of the specimens tested, compared to 12% (22/188) using routine methods alone.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The use of molecular tests improved pathogen detection by 39% when paired with routine methods.</p><p><strong>Contribution: </strong>Multi-pathogen molecular testing is useful for rapidly diagnosing meningitis cases.</p>","PeriodicalId":44007,"journal":{"name":"Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases","volume":"39 1","pages":"688"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11736564/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143013662","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Brain abscesses in an immunocompromised patient with a soft tissue mass.","authors":"Thokozani Mwase, Phineas Mapiye, Boitumelo Mashigo, Camilla le Roux, Tamsin Lovelock","doi":"10.4102/sajid.v39i1.669","DOIUrl":"10.4102/sajid.v39i1.669","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Nocardiosis is a rare opportunistic infection and may be misdiagnosed as tuberculosis in the immunocompromised patient. This case report highlights the importance of doing tissue cultures in immunocompromised individuals to correctly identify <i>Nocardia</i> spp. and initiate appropriate treatment timeously.</p><p><strong>Contribution: </strong>This case report describes a typical case of disseminated nocardiosis with brain abscesses in an immunocompromised patient who would have typically been treated as disseminated tuberculosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":44007,"journal":{"name":"Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases","volume":"39 1","pages":"669"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-11-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11622114/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142802605","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}