Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic created ethical and legal tension for healthcare workers (HCWs), who had to balance professional obligations with personal safety, family responsibilities and resource limitations. The concept of ‘duty to care’ re-emerged as a contested ethical construct during periods of workforce vulnerability and healthcare scarcity. Aim: This article…
Background: Surveillance of notifiable medical conditions (NMCs) is vital for a prompt, appropriate response. In South Africa, studies have demonstrated under-reporting of NMCs despite it being mandatory. Emergency departments (EDs) are often the first point of contact for patients with NMCs. Objectives: This study aimed to assess ED clinicians’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding the…
Fungal keratitis is a vision-threatening corneal infection, most commonly caused by Fusarium and Aspergillus. We report a rare case of keratitis caused by Colletotrichum coccodes in an elderly patient with a chronic corneal ulcer refractory to fluconazole. Initial corneal scrapings were negative, delaying diagnosis. Repeat deep biopsy, fungal culture and pan-fungal polymerase chain reaction…
Background: Leprosy, caused by Mycobacterium leprae , remains a condition designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a neglected tropical disease, despite formal eradication in South Africa. Histopathology is pivotal in the diagnosis of leprosy, particularly in resource-limited settings. Objectives: The study aimed to describe the histopathological spectrum and clinical features of…
Mpox is a zoonotic orthopoxvirus infection historically linked to being in endemic regions, travel and close physical contact, including within men who have sex with men (MSM) communities. We report a case of severe mpox in a heterosexual man with advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease and no travel history to endemic areas. The patient developed extensive cutaneous disease and…
A 44-year-old woman with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), chronic kidney disease and chronic diarrhoea presented with worsening gastrointestinal symptoms and renal impairment. Despite reported adherence, she had HIV viraemia and atypical hepatitis B serology (absence of hepatitis B core antibody and co-existence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B surface antibody) with high…
Background: Despite the introduction of hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination into the South African Expanded Programme on Immunization in 1995, HBV remains an important occupational risk to healthcare workers and students. Data regarding the duration and level of HBV immunity following childhood vaccination and response to booster vaccination are required to guide vaccination policies. Objectives:…
Primary infection with Varicella-Zoster virus causes varicella (chickenpox). Thereafter, following reactivation after a period of latency, it can cause zoster (shingles). Simultaneous occurrence of varicella and zoster is rare, particularly in children. Contribution: We describe an 11-year-old girl, HIV-positive, but not receiving antiretrovirals, who presented with contemporaneous varicella and…
Background: Candidozyma auris has emerged as a nosocomial pathogen in South Africa, characterised by multidrug resistance and environmental persistence. Objectives: This study aimed to describe the prevalence, disease patterns, and antifungal susceptibility patterns of C. auris isolates recovered from public-sector healthcare facilities in the greater Pretoria region from 2021 to 2024. Method: A…
Background: There is a paucity of data on gastrointestinal colonisation with Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPn) in African adults, although it is a known risk factor for developing KPn invasive disease (KPn-ID). Objectives: We investigated the risk factors for KPn gastrointestinal colonisation among a cohort of hospitalised adults without KPn-ID in South Africa, and described their clinical outcomes.…
