In Practice
Human brucellosis in South Africa: Public health and diagnostic pitfalls
Abstract
Human brucellosis in South Africa (SA) is under-diagnosed and under-reported. This is because many clinicians have little or no experience in managing affected patients, and in part because of the nonspecific and insidious nature of the disease. A case of human brucellosis caused by Brucella melitensis in a patient from the Western Cape Province of SA is described, and the resulting exposure of staff members at two medical microbiology laboratories, as well as the public health investigation that was conducted, are discussed. This article aims to highlight the need for strengthening integration between public health, medical and veterinary services and exposing deficiencies in public health, veterinary and laboratory practices.
Authors' affiliations
Justyna Maria Wojno, National Health Laboratory Service, Microbiology Laboratory, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Clinton Moodley, National Health Laboratory Service, Microbiology Laboratory, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Jaco Pienaar, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Animal Health: Beaufort West), Western Cape, South Africa
Natalie Beylis, National Health Laboratory Service, Microbiology Laboratory, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Lourens Jacobsz, National Health Laboratory Service, George Hospital, Western Cape, South Africa
Mark P Nicol, National Health Laboratory Service, Microbiology Laboratory, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Jenny Rossouw, Special Bacterial Pathogens Reference Laboratory, Centre for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Sandringham, Johannesburg, South Africa
Colleen Bamford, National Health Laboratory Service, Microbiology Laboratory, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa
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Date published: 2016-08-01
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