Wrong-route drug administration errors: A review of the literature
S Afr Med J. 2023 Dec 4;113(12):29. doi: 10.7196/SAMJ.2023.v113i12.1043.ABSTRACTOral drug formulations and enteral feeds may inadvertently be administered intravenously. Intravenous medications may be inadvertently administered intra-arterially. These examples of wrong-route drug administration errors have the potential to cause significant organ dysfunction and even death. This narrative review aims to explore the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying such errors and investigate preventive strategies and potential therapeutic options.PMID:38525634 | DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2023.v113i12.1043 (Source: South African Medical Journal)
Source: South African Medical Journal - March 25, 2024 Category: African Health Authors: J Taylor M Blockman Source Type: research
Prescribed Minimum Benefits complaints: a five-year retrospective review
CONCLUSION: Chronic conditions are the main diseases that medical scheme members complained about. Member education and clear definition of PMBs should be prioritised by medical schemes and the Council for Medical Schemes.PMID:38525635 (Source: South African Medical Journal)
Source: South African Medical Journal - March 25, 2024 Category: African Health Authors: Lindelwa Mitchele Ngobeni Lucky Moropeng Evelyn Thsehla Source Type: research
An outbreak within an outbreak: The impact of Infection Prevention and Control strategies on hospital-acquired infections and the occurrence of multi-drug resistant organisms during the COVID-19 pandemic
CONCLUSION: We observed a very significant rise in HAIs in the COVID-19 ICU during the third wave compared with the first, with almost three times as many patients developing HAIs. Unsurprisingly, it was associated with a longer mean stay in ICU and a higher mortality. The outbreak of both CRE and A. baumannii, and the fact that many patients cultured the same CRE organism and A. baumannii, strongly suggests that a critical breakdown in IPC measures had occurred.PMID:38525636 | DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2023.v113i12.971 (Source: South African Medical Journal)
Source: South African Medical Journal - March 25, 2024 Category: African Health Authors: B Mashigo A Parker U Lalla B W Allwood M S Moolla T Lovelock C F N Koegelenberg Source Type: research
Progress towards 90-90-90 and 95-95-95 strategy implementations and HIV positivity trends in the City of Johannesburg
CONCLUSION: This study has established positive progress made by the CoJ towards HIV testing, ART initiation, viral load suppression and HIV positivity rate. On the other hand, gaps in linkage to care after testing positive have been highlighted. It is therefore critical in the 95-95-95 strategy implementation era to focus on finding those missed during the 90-90-90 phase through revised and renewed innovative approaches.PMID:38525637 | DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2024.v114i1.862 (Source: South African Medical Journal)
Source: South African Medical Journal - March 25, 2024 Category: African Health Authors: J C Y Nyasulu I Maposa Source Type: research
Trisomy 21 screening with αlpha software and the Fetal Medicine Foundation algorithm
CONCLUSION: Screening with FMF software has a similar screen positive rate and better detection rate than screening with αlpha software. The low prenatal detection rate of trisomy 21 is mainly due to a low prevalence of screening. More research is needed in the SA setting to explore why screening and confirmatory testing after high-risk results are not performed in many pregnancies.PMID:38525638 | DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2023.v113i11.885 (Source: South African Medical Journal)
Source: South African Medical Journal - March 25, 2024 Category: African Health Authors: L Pistorius C A Cluver I Bhorat L Geerts Source Type: research
Biliary atresia: The profile, management and outcome of patients treated at a tertiary hospital in central South Africa
CONCLUSION: Late presentation, cholangitis and cessation of bile flow after an initial successful KPE, and socioeconomic challenges are issues of concern and had a detrimental influence on the outcome of BA in our study population. Implementing screening measures and education programmes at the primary healthcare level is essential to diagnose and refer BA patients timeously. Establishing support systems to assist socioeconomically disadvantaged patients will enable them to qualify for LT.PMID:38525639 | DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2023.v113i11.845 (Source: South African Medical Journal)
Source: South African Medical Journal - March 25, 2024 Category: African Health Authors: E Brits S M Le Grange Source Type: research
LSD and psilocybin for chronic nociplastic pain: A narrative review of the literature supporting the use of classic psychedelic agents in chronic pain
S Afr Med J. 2023 Nov 6;113(11):22-26. doi: 10.7196/SAMJ.2023.v113i11.814.ABSTRACTHealthcare providers face the challenging task of managing patients who suffer from chronic nociplastic pain conditions. Pain is a multidimensional experience, and the current approach to managing people in chronic pain often fails to meet the needs of these patients. Novel ways of treating people who suffer from chronic nociplastic pain with classic psychedelic agents may offer a new lens through which to approach their pain. Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin are both serotonergic agents with a long history of use in treating p...
Source: South African Medical Journal - March 25, 2024 Category: African Health Authors: J Van Der Walt R Parker Source Type: research
Evaluation of the impact of PEPFAR transition on retention in care in South Africa's Western Cape Province
CONCLUSION: When PEPFAR funding decreased in 2012, there was a decrease in RIC. To ensure the continuity of HIV care when a major funder withdraws sufficient and stable transition resources, investment in organisations that understand the local context, joint planning and co-ordination are required.PMID:38525641 | DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2024.v114i1.810 (Source: South African Medical Journal)
Source: South African Medical Journal - March 25, 2024 Category: African Health Authors: J Chiliza R Laing F G Feeley A T Brennan Source Type: research
Treating drug-resistant tuberculosis in an era of shorter regimens: Insights from rural South Africa
CONCLUSION: In a rural context, treating DR-TB amid limited resources and a high burden of HIV co-infection, we found that after considering controls, a short regimen was no different to a longer regimen in terms of success or mortality. Therefore, by alleviating burdens on multiple stakeholders, a short regimen is likely to be favourable for rural patients, clinicians, and healthcare systems. Besides other previously described correlates of outcomes, HIV viraemia emerged as a novel marker for reliably predicting poor outcomes in DR-TB with HIV co-infection, and a pragmatic target for intervention.PMID:38525642 | DOI:10.71...
Source: South African Medical Journal - March 25, 2024 Category: African Health Authors: J-D K Lotz J Porter H Conradie T Boyles B Gaunt S Dimanda D Cort Source Type: research
Guidance for the gastrointestinal evaluation and management of iron deficiency in Sub-Saharan Africa
CONCLUSION: The recommendations incorporate six areas, namely: general recommendations and practice, Helicobacter pylori, coeliac disease, suspected small bowel bleeding, inflammatory bowel disease, and preoperative care. Implementation of the recommendations is aimed at various levels from individual practitioners to healthcare institutions, departments and regional, district, provincial and national platforms. It is intended that the recommendations spur the development of centre-specific guidelines and that they are integrated with the relevant patient blood management protocols. Integration of the recommendations is in...
Source: South African Medical Journal - March 25, 2024 Category: African Health Authors: W M Simmonds Y Awuku C Barrett M Brand K Davidson D Epstein E Fredericks S Gabriel S Grobler C Gounden L Katsidzira V J Louw V Naidoo C Noel E Ogutu N Ramonate N Seabi M Setshedi J Van Zyl G Watermeyer C Kassianides Source Type: research
The current standard of care of inflammatory bowel disease
S Afr Med J. 2024 Mar 18;114(3):e1792. doi: 10.7196/SAMJ.2024.v114i3.1792.ABSTRACT-.PMID:38525569 | DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2024.v114i3.1792 (Source: South African Medical Journal)
Source: South African Medical Journal - March 25, 2024 Category: African Health Authors: J Wright Source Type: research
Is ableism still entrenched in the medical profession in South Africa?
S Afr Med J. 2024 Feb 13;114(2):e1766.NO ABSTRACTPMID:38525570 (Source: South African Medical Journal)
Source: South African Medical Journal - March 25, 2024 Category: African Health Authors: S N Whitehead H Kathard T Lorenzo S L Amosun Source Type: research
Genetic screening of South African families with Parkinson's disease
S Afr Med J. 2024 Feb 13;114(2):e1750. doi: 10.7196/SAMJ.2024.v114i2.1750.NO ABSTRACTPMID:38525571 | DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2024.v114i2.1750 (Source: South African Medical Journal)
Source: South African Medical Journal - March 25, 2024 Category: African Health Authors: S Bardien A Braun R Van Coller F Hassan Amod J Carr S Moosa Source Type: research
Contribution of a bonded scholarship scheme to staffing rural health facilities
CONCLUSION: The UYDF Scholarship Scheme has shown that investment in rural students through a bonded scholarship can contribute to staffing rural PHCFs, as >90% of graduates worked at rural PHCFs, and for some disciplines >70% of graduates worked for ≥5 years at a rural PHCF. Allied HCPs worked on average for longer periods at rural PHCFs than doctors.PMID:38525572 | DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2024.v114i3.1608 (Source: South African Medical Journal)
Source: South African Medical Journal - March 25, 2024 Category: African Health Authors: R G MacGregor A J Ross Source Type: research
South African healthcare reforms towards universal healthcare - where to next?
This article examines potential scenarios after the Bill is passed and ways in which UHC could be advanced. It begins with an overview of the trajectory of health system reform since 1994, then examines the scenarios that may emerge once the Bill is passed by Parliament and makes a case for finding ways in which UHC could be advanced within the country, regardless of any legal or financial barriers that may delay or limit NHI implementation.PMID:38525573 | DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2024.v114i3.1571 (Source: South African Medical Journal)
Source: South African Medical Journal - March 25, 2024 Category: African Health Authors: G Solanki T Wilkinson N G Myburgh J E Cornell V Brijlal Source Type: research
