The purpose of this study has been to examine and analyze the salient medical and legal aspects related to the educational placement of children in public schools with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The study attempts to provide information that will serve as a resource to public school personnel who are among the professionals that must make informed decisions on public school attendance policies for children with a lethal, complex, and controversial disease. New developments in medicine and in the courts have crucial implications for existing policies and for the development of new policies related to the issue. By examining precedents and patterns in the emerging area of AIDS litigation and legislation, the study serves as a resource for school officials enabling them to make informed proactive decisions. The methodology used in the study was legal research. Primary and secondary sources of law were utilized. Nonlegal research materials included medical research and data that might serve as evidence in legal disputes concerning the educational placement of children with the HIV infection. In addition to medical evidence related to educational placement issues, the information gathered for the study included an examination of the state antidiscrimination disease laws, state special education laws, state communicable disease laws, and state and selected local policy statements for sixteen states; an analysis of the relevant legal issues of the Education of the Handicapped Act (EHA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and an examination of the constitutional issues pertinent to educational placement of children with AIDS. Case law “in point” or “analogous” to the issue was presented. The concluding chapter summarizes the findings from Chapters Two, Three, Four and includes recommendations for decision-making and policy based on the medical and legal information presented. There is no medical evidence to support the exclusion of children from regular school attendance based on the suspicion of or identification of HIV infection. Awareness of sound medical evidence to support educational decision-making provides a means of projecting a solidly grounded policy to the school population and community at large. Health care precautions should be taken and routine procedures established for the removal of blood and/or body fluids in cases of accident or injury. Routine precautions should be followed by all school personnel regardless of whether an HIV-infected individual is present. / Ed. D.

A review of literature related to community-acquired Clostridium difficile- associated disease (CA-CDAD) was conducted. Information was collected from Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health (CINAHL) and MEDLINE-EBSCOhost databases. Clinical practice recommendations were obtained from the CDC. Studies were examined for epidemiology of infection due to C. difficile in the community and interventions to reduce transmission. Findings demonstrated a mirroring of to CA-CDAD to community-acquired Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Multiple studies found underlying gastrointestinal disorders and use of cephalosporin antibiotics to be a risk factor. Another identified risk factor was use of gastric acid suppressive drugs. Also, no particular C. difficile strain was more likely to cause recurrence. Many positive cases for CA-CDAD lacked traditional risk factors such as recent antibiotic exposure. To reduce transmission of community-acquired MRSA the CDC recommends MRSA should be considered in the differential diagnosis of soft skin tissue infections. Clinicians should also collect specimens for culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing from all patients with abscesses. The CDC recommends clinicians should teach their patients to limit transmission and ask about similar cases in household members and close contacts. Therefore, to reduce transmission of CA-COAD, Clostridium difficile- associated disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of diarrhea. Clinicians should collect specimens for culture based on patient history & current clinical presentation for patients with diarrhea. It is important that patients be taught the proper hygiene and cleaning protocols to reduce transmission

Yes / Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are currently the leading cause of death worldwide. In this paper, we examine the channels through which economic growth affects NCDs’ epidemiology. Following a production function approach, we develop a basic technique to break up the impact of economic growth on NCDs into three fundamental components: (1) a resource effect; (2) a behaviour effect; and (3) a knowledge effect. We demonstrate that each of these effects can be measured as the product of two elasticities, the output and income elasticity of the three leading factors influencing the frequency of NCDs in any population: health care, healthrelated behaviours and lifestyle, and medical knowledge.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus, GBS) is the leading cause of neonatal infections and deaths in human. It can also cause infections in pregnant women and non-pregnant adults. Penicillin and ampicillin are antibiotics of choice for the treatment of GBS infections. Erythromycin and clindamycin are used as alternative therapy in penicillin allergic patients, however resistance to these agents has been increasingly observed. This present study was undertaken to determine the colonization rate of GBS, susceptibility profile and the mechanism of antibiotic resistance in pregnant women and their babies at Dr. George Mukhari Academic Hospital in Pretoria. METHODS: Rectal and vaginal swabs were collected from pregnant women; ear and umbilical swabs from newborns over an 11 month period. Samples were cultured on selective media (CNA agar and Todd-Hewitt broth) and GBS positively identified using morphological and biochemical tests including Gram staining, hemolytic activity, catalase test, bile esculin, CAMP test and Latex agglutination test. The susceptibility testing was done using the Kirby-Bauer and E-test methods. The D-test method was used to determine the inducible clindamycin resistance. Multiplex PCR with were used to detect different genes coding for resistance. RESULTS: Out of the 413 patients evaluated, 128 (30.9%) were positive with GBS. All isolates were sensitive to penicillin and ampicillin. Erythromycin and clindamycin resistance was 21.1% and 17.2% respectively; of which 69% harbouring constitutive MLBB, 17.4% inducible MLSB. The alteration of ribosomal target encoded by ermB genes was the commonest mechanism of resistance observed in 55% of isolates, 38% of isolates had both ermB and linB genes and efflux pump mediated by mefA genes was detected in one of isolates. Conclusion: This study reaffirms the appropriateness of penicillin as the antibiotic of choice for treating GBS infection. However it raises the challenges of resistance to the macrolides and lincosamides. More GBS treatment options for penicillin allergic patients need to be researched. / Health Studies / M.Sc. (Life Sciences (Microbiology))

Diarrhoea, particularly infectious diarrhoea, in children below five years of age is recognised as one of the leading cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. This is especially true in residential areas of developing countries where there is substandard sanitation and overcrowding which are reservoirs for farther transmission. Shigellosis is endemic in developing countries and in Sub-Saharan Africa, including South Africa, a region where unique geographic, economic, political, sociocultural, and personal factors interact to create distinctive continuing challenges to prevention and control. Our study was undertaken to establish baseline information on incidences of Shigella, its serotype and resistant pattern of isolates from human faeces from residents of Johannesburg, South Africa. All stools received from January to April 2013 from the private health care system were cultured on standard media for isolation of Shigella and confirmed by standard biochemical reactions and serological method. Antibiotic sensitivity test was determined by the agar diffusion method. 11009 stool samples were assayed from patients aged between 22 days to 94 years with a 110 Shigella isolates yield, of which 47 (43%) were S. flexneri, 61 (55%) S. sonnei and 1 (1%) of S. dysentriae and S. boydii respectively. Majority of patients 76 (69%) were children between < 1 to 5 years old followed by those between 6 to 10 years 13(12%). Of the four species isolated from children of up to 10 years old, S. sonnie was confirmed in 52 cases (59%) and S. flexneri in 36 cases (41%). A total of 53 (48%) males and 57 (52%) females were infected. However, a hundred per cent susceptibility to ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone but high levels of resistance to Co-trimoxazole (83%), tetracycline (72%), and ampicillin (26%) was noted. From the 110 isolates, 96 (87%) were resistant to one or more drugs while 14 (13%) were fully susceptible. These results show that S. sonnei followed by S. flexneri as predominating aetiology of shigellosis and Ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin as effective drugs against all four Shigella species. / Health Studies / M. Sc. (Life Sciences)

Thesis (MPhil (Communicable Diseases)) (Dept of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences. Community Health))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Global control of the tuberculosis (TB) epidemic remains one of the greatest health challenges of the 21st century, despite the availability of effective treatment over the past 50 years. The rising incidence of transmitted (primary) drug resistant TB threatens the very fabric of conventional TB control efforts, which are already strained by a rampant human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic. Ongoing transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a key factor that sustains the TB epidemic in endemic areas such as the socio-economically deprived townships of Cape Town, South Africa. My research explores the disease context, or social terrain, of TB in this endemic setting. It is primarily concerned with how the social terrain of endemic TB may contribute to ongoing transmission and the potential that it holds for enhancing TB control efforts. Analyses of qualitative data from eight township research sites in and around Cape Town show that pragmatic and novel approaches are required to pierce through the enormity of TB as a political and economic problem. Broadening the current biomedical focus on treating individual patients, to include more holistic community-based interventions, can and should be developed. Data were collected as part of qualitative pre-intervention community surveys conducted in 2005 and 2006 for a public health intervention trial (ZAMSTAR) performed in Zambia and South Africa. Twenty-four communities were selected as research sites and this study draws on the survey data collected in the trial’s eight South African sites. Although the data were collected for the ZAMSTAR trial, the aims and analyses presented in this study - which seek to improve our understanding of how the social terrain is meaningful for TB control - remain independent of ZAMSTAR. Through a retrospective analysis of the South African data, I inductively present three distinctive ways in which the social terrain is meaningful for TB control. First, the interaction between social cohesion and social diversity may be an important variable that predicts community response to public health interventions aimed at reducing the prevalence of TB in these endemic areas. This is demonstrated by triangulating ZAMSTAR’S adaptation of a social systems model with further analysis of the research sites. Second, the study identifies a common discourse running through the sites that stigmatizes TB as both a dirty and HIV-related disease. It is argued that this may be significantly contributing to TB diagnostic delay and I call for more holistic approaches to TB control that can reduce perceived marginalization and TB-HIV stigma. Third, congregate settings emerge as noteworthy visible features of social terrain that clearly have the potential to facilitate TB transmission within communities. The pre-intervention surveys qualitatively described public spaces within each research site and the use thereof. Basic principles of TB transmission are applied to these descriptions, developing a novel method of mapping the relative transmission risk possibly posed. Innovative use of similar approaches could identify likely transmission “hot spots” that may serve as focal points for targeted interventions, such as adjustments that increase ventilation or encourage TB suspects to seek urgent medical diagnosis and treatment. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die beheer van tuberkulose (TB) bly steeds een van die grootste gesondheids uitdagings van die 21ste eeu, ten spyte van die beskikbaarheid van effektiewe behandeling vir die afgelope 50 jaar. Die stygende insidensie van oorgedraagde (primêre) middelweerstandige TB bedreig die wese van konvensionele TB kontrole programme, wat reeds gebuk gaan onder die oorweldigende impak van die menslike immuungebrek virus (MIV) epidemie. Ononderbroke oordrag van Mycobacterium tuberculosis is ‘n kardinale faktor wat die epidemie onderhou in areas soos die sosioekonomies agtergeblewe dele van Kaapstad, Suid-Afrika. My navorsing ondersoek sosiale terrein (konteks) van TB in hierdie hiperendemiese konteks. Dit is primêr gemoeid met die moontlike bydrae van die sosiale terrein tot voortgaande TB oordrag en die potensiaal wat dit mag inhou om TB kontrole te verbeter. Analise van kwalitatiewe data van agt agtergeblewe gemeenskappe in en om Kaapstad wys dat nuwe en pragmatiese benaderings benodig word om die volle omvang van TB as ‘n politieke en ekonomiese problem aan te spreek. Data is versamel as deel van kwalitatiewe pre-intervensie gemeenskapsopnames wat gedoen is gedurende 2005 en 2006 vir ‘n publieke gesondheid intervensie studie (ZAMSTAR) in Zambië en Suid-Afrika. Die studie sou poog om die TB prevalensie betekenisvol te verlaag in gemeenskappe wat erg geaffekteer word deur MIV. Vir navorsings doeleindes is vier-en-twintig gemeenskappe geselekteer, waaronder agt Suid-Afrikaanse gemeenskappe. My studie analiseer kwalitatiewe data wat versamel is in hierdie agt gemeenskappe, wat verskeie observasie en deelnemende tegnieke ingespan het. Die studie poog om algemene begrip te verbeter van hoe die sosiale terrein betekenisvol kan wees in TB kontrole; dit is my eie werk en is totaal onafhanklik van die groter ZAMSTAR studie. Induktiewe retrospektiewe analise van data identifiseer drie voorbeelde wat illustreer hoe die sosiale terrein betekenisvol mag wees vir TB kontrole. Eerstens, die interaksie tusses sosiale kohesie en sosiale diversiteit mag ‘n belangrike verandelike wees wat gemeenskapsrespons tot publieke gesondheidsintervensies voorspel. Dit word geïllustreer deur die toepassing van ‘n sosiale sisteme model (soos aangepas deur ZAMSTAR) en analise van ander aanvullende data. Tweedens, identifiseer die studie ‘n gemeenskaplike diskoers in alle navorsings gemeenskappe wat TB stigmatiseer as beide ‘n vuil en MIV-verwante siekte. Dit word geargumenteer dat hierdie verskynsel moontlik betekenisvol bydra tot vertraging van TB diagnose en die nodigheid vir meer holistiese benaderings wat marginalisasie en TB-HIV stigma kan verminder word uitgewys. Derdens blyk dit dat openbare vergaderplekke ‘n belangrike deel van die sosiale terrein vorm en duidelik die potensiaal het om TB oordrag binne gemeenskappe te fasiliteer. Die pre-intervensie opnames het alle openbare vergaderplekke sorgvuldig beskryf en basiese beginsels van TB oordrag is gebruik om vergaderplekke geografies te kaart volgens die moontlike transmissie risiko wat dit mag inhou. Innoverende gebruik van GIS-gebasseerde benaderings, soortgelyk aan die metode wat gebruik is om potensiële “transmission hot spots” te kaart, mag bydra om intervensies beter te fokus, deur bv. verbeterde ventilasie te verskaf of mense met simptome van TB aan te moedig om dringend mediese hulp te soek.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Nurses, midwives and clinical officers referred to as Mid-level Practioners (MLPs) play an important role in the health care system especially in rural Africa. With particular reference to rural Uganda, due to the large shortage of doctors, MLPs handle most of the duties usually meant for doctors, at health centre IV(s). From 2009 to 2011, two training interventions of MLPs were performed at 36 sites in Uganda by the Integrated Infectious Disease Capacity Building Evaluation (IDCAP). The two interventions were: Integrated Management of Infectious Diseases (IMID) and On-site Support Services (OSS) which aimed at improving MLPs’ case management for four diseases: HIV, TB, pneumonia and malaria. In this thesis, we have developed three mathematical models to investigate the effect of the two training interventions on these infectious diseases. All the models are formulated using systems of ordinary differential equations which are structured in three age groups: [0, 5), [5, 14) and [14, 50). We explored the effect of the two training interventions in the context of malaria-pneumonia, HIV-TB co-infections and the four diseases together. Our analysis shows that: i) For malaria-pneumonia, both IMID and the combination of IMID and OSS reduce the number of cases, deaths and prevalence of disease but have no effect on the incident episodes of disease. ii) Results from the HIVTB model propose that HIV and TB testing are important steps in quality of health care and are capable of offsetting slightly negative effects of reduction in ART enrollment and provision of treatment. iii) The HIV-TB-malaria-pneumonia (HTMP) model concurs with the results of the first two models and its results demonstrate that high coverage levels of the training interventions increase the positive effects that the interventions have on mortality and morbidity. Overall, our results suggest that training of MLPs is much more effective for the short term duration diseases such as malaria and pneumonia, where the baseline values for most of the performance indicators are ≥ 0.6, but not so much for long term duration diseases such as HIV and TB, whose baseline values for most of the performance indicators are < 0.6. The results further highlight that problems such as case detection and drug stock-outs need to be addressed in order for training to have substantial impact, especially in instances where the performance indicator proportions are low. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Verpleegsters, vroedvroue en kliniese beamptes wat gesamentlik na verwys word as midvlak praktisyns (MVPs) , speel n belangrike rol in die gesondheidsorg sisteem, veral in landelike dele van Afrika. Met spesifieke verwysing na gesondheid sentrums in Uganda, waar daar te min dokters is, hanteer MVPs die meeste van die pligte wat eintlik deur dokters verrig moet word. Vanaf 2009 tot 2011 is twee opleidingsprogramme vir MVPs by 36 fasiliteite in Uganda deur die Integrated Infectious Disease Capacity Building Evaluation (IDCAP) organisasie aangebied. Die twee programme staan bekend as: Integrated Management of Infectious Diseases (IMID) and On-site Support Services (OSS). Beide die programme stel ten doel om die MVPs se pasint bestuur vir die siektes MIV, tuberkulose (TB), longontsteking en malaria te verbeter. Drie wiskundige modelle word in hierdie tesis ontwikkel om die effek van die opleidingsprogramme op hierdie oordraagbare siektes te ondersoek. Al die modelle word geformuleer deur gebruik te maak van stelsels van gewone differensiaal vergelykings wat gestruktureer is in drie ouderdomsgroepe: [0, 5), [5, 14) en [14, 50). Die effek van die opleidings programme word in die konteks van longontstekingmalaria mede-infeksie, MIV- TB mede-infeksie en al vier siektes gelyk, ondersoek. Die analise wys dat: i) Vir longontsteking-malaria mede-infeksie het beide IMID en die kombinasie van IMID en OSS die aantal siekte-gevalle, sterftes en die prevalensie van die siektes verminder, maar het geen effek op die insidensie van siekte-gevalle nie. ii) Resultate van die MIV-TB model dui aan dat MIV en TB toetsing n belangrike aspek van die gehalte van sorg is en dat dit die effense negatiewe effek van die afname in ART inskrywing en voorsiening van behandeling, teenstaan. iii) Die MIV-TB-longontsteking-malaria model (HTMP) stem ooreen met die resultate van die bogenoemde twee modelle en demonstreer dat ho dekking van die opleidingsprogramme die positiewe effek van die programme op mortaliteit en morbiditeit verhoog. In geheel stel die resultate van hierdie studie voor dat die opleiding van MVPs baie meer effektief is vir die korttermyn siektes soos malaria en longontsteking waarvoor die meeste van die beginwaardes van die prestasie-aanwysers ≥ 0.6 is, maar nie soveel vir lang-termyn siektes soos MIV en TB waarvoor die meeste van die beginwaarde van die prestasie-aanwysers < 0.6 is. Die resultate dui verder aan dat opleiding nie voldoende is wanneer die prestasie-aanwysers < 0.6 is nie en dat probleme soos die opsporing van siekte-gevalle en n gebrek aan medisyne by die klinieke aangespreek moet word vir opleiding om aansienlike impak te hê.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus, GBS) is the leading cause of neonatal infections and deaths in human. It can also cause infections in pregnant women and non-pregnant adults. Penicillin and ampicillin are antibiotics of choice for the treatment of GBS infections. Erythromycin and clindamycin are used as alternative therapy in penicillin allergic patients, however resistance to these agents has been increasingly observed. This present study was undertaken to determine the colonization rate of GBS, susceptibility profile and the mechanism of antibiotic resistance in pregnant women and their babies at Dr. George Mukhari Academic Hospital in Pretoria. METHODS: Rectal and vaginal swabs were collected from pregnant women; ear and umbilical swabs from newborns over an 11 month period. Samples were cultured on selective media (CNA agar and Todd-Hewitt broth) and GBS positively identified using morphological and biochemical tests including Gram staining, hemolytic activity, catalase test, bile esculin, CAMP test and Latex agglutination test. The susceptibility testing was done using the Kirby-Bauer and E-test methods. The D-test method was used to determine the inducible clindamycin resistance. Multiplex PCR with were used to detect different genes coding for resistance. RESULTS: Out of the 413 patients evaluated, 128 (30.9%) were positive with GBS. All isolates were sensitive to penicillin and ampicillin. Erythromycin and clindamycin resistance was 21.1% and 17.2% respectively; of which 69% harbouring constitutive MLBB, 17.4% inducible MLSB. The alteration of ribosomal target encoded by ermB genes was the commonest mechanism of resistance observed in 55% of isolates, 38% of isolates had both ermB and linB genes and efflux pump mediated by mefA genes was detected in one of isolates. Conclusion: This study reaffirms the appropriateness of penicillin as the antibiotic of choice for treating GBS infection. However it raises the challenges of resistance to the macrolides and lincosamides. More GBS treatment options for penicillin allergic patients need to be researched. / Health Studies / M. Sc. (Life Sciences (Microbiology))

São sistematizados e discutidos aspectos conceituais e operacionais da vigilãncia epidemiológica e do controle de eventos adversos à saúde, da monitorização em saúde pública, da pesquisa em saúde pública, do controle sanitário de produtos de consumo humano, riscos ambientais e do exercício profissional na área biomédica e, por fim, do apoio laboratorial aos serviços de saúde, vigilância epidemiológica e à pesquisa. Com fundamento nessa sistematização e discussão, é proposto um modelo de vigilância epidemiológica compatível com as diretrizes constitucionais vigentes e, portanto, aplicável, com as adaptações necessárias, ao processo de reorganização do Sistema Nacional de Saúde. Nesse modelo, os sistemas de vigilância epidemiológica para específicos eventos adversos à saúde seriam compostos por três sub-sistemas: a) Sub-sistema de informação para ações de controle: com a atribuição de coletar e analisar sistematicamente dados de específicos eventos adversos à saúde e/ou dos respectivos programas de controle, como também da coleta esporádica de informações por meio de inqüéritos e investigações epidemiológicas de campo. Neste sub-sistema as informações obtidas seriam rapidamente analisadas, para, com base nas recomendações técnicas disponíveis ou em normas já existentes, indicar as medidas imediatas de controle; b) Sub-sistema de inteligência epidemiológica: com a atribuição da análise sistemática dos dados recebidos do correspondente sub-sistema de informação para ações de controle para, incorporando os conhecimentos científicos e tecnológicos disponíveis, elaborar recomendações com as bases técnicas para as ações de controle de agravos específicos à saúde, divulgando-as regularmente a todos que delas necessitam. Este sub-sistema deverá identificar lacunas no conhecimento científico e tecnológico, referentes à especificos eventos adversos à saúde, induzindo pesquisas com vistas a superá-las. Deverá ainda constituir o primeiro nivel de incorporação, pelo Sistema Nacional de Saúde, do conhecimento produzido no campo da investigação cientifica e tecnológica; c) Sub-sistema de pesquisa: com a atribuição de desenvolver investigações cientificas e tecnológicas, induzidas pelo sub-sistema de inteligência epidemiológica e voltadas à solução de problemas emergentes e/ou prioritários em saúde pública. Nesse modelo os sistemas de vigilância para especificos agravos à saúde têm, obrigatoriamente, três componentes: a) coleta da informação; b) análise; c) ampla disseminação das informações analisadas acrescidas de recomendações com as bases técnicas para as ações de controle. Por sua vez, constituem a inteligência do Sistema Nacional de Saúde para específicos agravos à saúde, oferecendo condições técnicas para maior eficiência e eficácia e ainda, contínuo aprimoramento e atualização dos programas de saúde. / Conceptual and operational aspects of epidemiologic surveillance of adverse health events, public health monitoring, research in public health, sanitary control of human consuming products, risk from environment and from medical technologies, and laboratory support for health services, epidemiological surveillance and research are systematized and discussed. Based on this systematization and discussion it is proposed a concept of epidemiologic surveillance which is compatible with the established constitutional guiding, and thence applicable for reorganization process of National Health System, after requisitive adjusting. In this approach the Epidemiological Surveillance System for specific adverse health events would be consisted of three subsystems: a) Information for control actions subsystem: which assures the systematic collection and analysis of data on specific adverse health events and/or of the respective control programs, and of the sporadic collection of data by means of field epidemiological inquiring and investigation. In this subsystem the obtained data will be promptly analysed in order to identify the immediate measures, based on available technical recommendations or established guides or rules; b) Epidemiological intelligence subsystem: which conducts the systematic analysis of data received from the respective information subsystem control actions in order to elaborate recommendations with a technical basis of specific adverse health events related to a control intervention, and publishing them regularly and widely to all concerned, after being incorporated into available scientific and technologic knowledge. This subsystem should identify the gaps in the scientific and technologic knowledge related to the specific adverse health events, and induce researches with the purpose of overcoming these areas of weakness. It should also constitute the first level of incorporation of the knowledge in the scientific and technologic investigation are a by National Health System; c) Research subsystem: which is responsible for scientific and technologic investigation development by epidemiological intelligence subsystem and aimed at solving the emerging and/or priority problems in public health. In this approach the surveillance systems for specific adverse health events require three components: a) the information data collection; b) the data analysis; c) the wide diffusion of the analysed information data including the recommendation with technical support for control proceedings. In its turn, these components constitute the National Health System inteliggence for specific adverse health events to offer technical conditions for high efficiency and efficacy, and also a continuos improvement and modernization of health programs.

Magister Scientiae - MSc (Biotechnology) / The vaginal mucosa is dominated by Gram positive, rod shaped lactobacilli which serve as a natural barrier against infection. In both healthy and BV infected women Lactobacillus crispatus and Lactobacillus jensennii has been found to be the predominant Lactobacillus species. Many studies have been conducted to assess factors influencing lactobacilli dominance in the vaginal microbiome. However, no study has evaluated the impact of plasmids on the vaginal lactobacilli. In the present study two plasmids, pLc17 and pLc4, isolated from vaginal Lactobacillus species of both healthy and BV infected women were characterized. pLc4 was present in both Lactobacillus crispatus and Lactobacillus jensennii while pLc17 was only present in Lactobacillus crispatus. pLc17 (16663 bp in size) encoded a ribonucleotide diphosphate reductase (RNR), a filamentation induced by cAMP-like (FIC-like) protein and numerous mobile elements. The FIC-like protein may assist pLc17 to persist within the bacterial population, while RNR is commonly associated with phages and may indicate phage infection. pLc4 (4224 bp in size) encodes for a replication initiator protein and a plasmid partitioning protein. The replication protein on pLc4 shows 44% identity with the replication initiation protein of pSMQ173b_03. On further phylogenetic and sequence analysis with other Rolling Circle Replication (RCR) plasmids, pLc4 appears to be novel as the plasmid shows a low degree of similarity to these RCR plasmids. pLc17 appears to carry both a RCR replicon as well as a theta replicon, similar to pIP501, the broad-host-range plasmid from Bacillus subtilis. The relative Plasmid Copy Number (PCN) for pLc4 and pLc17 was analysed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for the healthy state relative to the disease state from twentyeight vaginal swab samples obtained from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD). The relative PCN for pLc4 and pLc17 had a fold increase of ~2.803 and ~1.693, respectively in the healthy patient samples relative to BV infected patient samples. However, there were not found to be significant differences when taking the standard error into account Due to the novelty of these plasmids further analysis and characterisation is required for both plasmids, to establish what role they may play in the health of the vaginal milieu.