A systematic review of risk factors for mortality among tuberculosis patients in South Africa.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB)-associated mortality in South Africa remains high. This review aimed to systematically assess risk factors associated with death during TB treatment in South African patients.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review of TB research articles published between 2010 and 2018.

: a rare cause of peritonitis in a peritoneal dialysis patient (a case report).

Although fungal organisms remain an uncommon cause of peritonitis in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis, it carries significant morbidity and mortality. We describe a 36-year-old woman who presented with peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis caused by dual infection with Staphylococcus caprae and Aspergillus fumigatus and discuss the challenges that were confronted regarding microbiological diagnosis and the selection of optimal antifungal treatment with subsequent successful resumption of peritoneal dialysis.

Re-decontamination of liquid mycobacterial cultures: Additional yield in the era of Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra in Cape Town, South Africa.

A retrospective review of liquid mycobacterial cultures was performed at a laboratory in South Africa from 01 January 2018 to 31 December 2018 to assess the increased yield in detecting complex following sample re-decontamination. Only 9 of 99 (9%) re-decontaminated samples were culture positive for complex. Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra, concurrently performed on 7 of the 9 samples, detected complex in all but 1 sample.

Delayed-onset post-operative keratitis and endophthalmitis caused by Exophiala oligosperma.

A case of delayed-onset post-cataract-surgery keratitis and endophthalmitis, caused by the melanin-producing fungus Exophiala oligosperma, is presented. The patient presented with an infection at the corneal side-port wound 5 months after an uneventful phacoemulsification surgery. Despite pars plana vitrectomy and combination antifungal treatment, the patient required an evisceration of the globe.

Endobronchial actinomycosis in a child.

Actinomycosis is a rare, indolent and invasive infection caused by Actinomyces species. Pulmonary actinomycosis is very rarely seen in the paediatric population. The classic radiological presentation of thoracic involvement of actinomycosis includes lower lobe consolidation, empyema and periostitis of the ribs.