published_or_final_version / Microbiology / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

The aim of the thesis was to determine the microbial colonization at the injection site of central venous catheter and its possible influence to maintain the lowest incidence of catheter sepsis. The culture results of skin swabs and taken blood cultures from two groups of patients were compared with each other using qualitative analysis methods. Those were Intensive Care Unit patients with established central venous catheter. The result was the discovery of microbial colonization of the skin and the representation of different pathogenic strains at the site of a central venous catheter for both established groups. Further showed that the higher the risk of microbial colonization with symptoms of catheter sepsis was seen where patients have central venous catheter established for longer period of time and have been treated under home parental nutrition program with stoma. The recommendation is the continuous education of health professionals to act in accordance with the latest preventive treatment recommendations, and the emphasis is mainly placed on hands cleaning and disinfecting as the hands of health professionals are one of the most common and risky way of transmission of pathogenic strains with potential nosocomial infection formation. Aseptic principles must be repeatedly communicated to all...

<p>This study shows that herbs can be effectively screened for potiential bio-activity using in vitro methods. Further studies will be needed to better explore Artemisia afra&rsquo / s effect on immunoregulation, particularly long term effects of the herb on the immune system and its effect on other disease states.</p>

<p>This study shows that herbs can be effectively screened for potiential bio-activity using in vitro methods. Further studies will be needed to better explore Artemisia afra&rsquo / s effect on immunoregulation, particularly long term effects of the herb on the immune system and its effect on other disease states.</p>

Magister Scientiae - MSc / This study shows that herbs can be effectively screened for potiential bio-activity using in vitro methods. Further studies will be needed to better explore Artemisia afra&rsquo;s effect on immunoregulation, particularly long term effects of the herb on the immune system and its effect on other disease states. / South Africa

Magister Scientiae - MSc / "The aim of the study was to use in vitro human whole blood cultures to screen the water samples collected from the Eerste/Plankenbrug river system for cytotoxicity and inflammatory activity and for the first time investigate the impact on the cell- mediated and humoral immune pathways. Water samples were collected fronm the sites during the dry summer season and rainy winter season. Blood was collected from the healthy male volunteers and diluted with RPMI 1640. For cytotoxicity and inflammatory activity 2.5ul of blood for 18-20 hrs at 37 C... This study shows that waster from the Plankenbrug River is heavily polluted by contaminants from both the agricultural area and informal settlement of Kayamandi. These contaminants can be potentially immunotoxic during the summer season and they can result in inflammatory diarrheal disease and immunosuppression in exposed individuals..."

L’objectif de mon travail fut de valider et d’optimiser la spectrométrie de masse de type MALDI-TOF pour l’identification et la classification d'un ensemble de bactéries pathogènes ou opportunistes chez l’homme, en enrichissant une base de données et en testant la robustesse de la méthode, afin d’obtenir une méthode rapide fixe et fiable d'acquisition de résultats. Les différents résultats obtenus ont permis la validation de la technique comme outil d’identification bactérienne fiable en routine. Elle permet désormais de caractériser les mélanges de deux bactéries voir même la différentiation d’espèces très proches comme les Shigella spp et E. coli. Nous avons montré que la technique sera encore améliorée par un outil supplémentaire de comparaison des souches pour une veille épidémiologique "en temps réel", sans investissement supplémentaire, en permettant plusieurs types d'économie. Elle apporte un gain réel dans la prise en charge du patient et le choix éclairé des antibiotiques testés pour l'antibiogramme. La technique peut aussi constituer un outil alternatif de sérotypage. / The aim of this work was to validate and optimize MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for the identification and classification of a set of pathogens or opportunistic bacteria, by enriching a database and testing the robustness of the method, in order to obtain a quick and reliable fixed acquisition results. The different results obtained allowed the validation of the technique as a reliable tool for bacterial identification in hospital routine. In addition, we have shown that it can characterize mixtures of two bacteria and differentiate closely related species such as Shigella spp and E. coli. We demonstrate that MALDI-TOF/MS will be further enhanced by an additional tool for comparison of strains for epidemiological monitoring in "real time". The technique can also be an alternative tool for serotyping. MALDI-TOF/MS identification provides a real benefit in terms of patient care and the choice of antibiotics tested for sensitivity, without additional investment, which allows different types of economy.