Page 44 - SAMRC Annual Report 2024-2025
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Unit members, postgraduate students and
research assistants during the symposium.
Dr Mukhethwa Munzhedzi, PhD graduate
(Microbiology).
Virginia, USA), Professor Hellen McIlleron (University
of Cape Town), Dr Emanuel Obasa (Stellenbosch
University), and Professor Renier Coetzee, (University
of the Western Cape).
Further, the Unit initiated research collaboration
with Professor Joel Bazira of Mbara University of
Science and Technology (Uganda) on community-
level AMR. This collaboration has since led to joint
peer-review publications on multidrug-resistant
Enterobacteriaceae uropathogens in rural southwest
Uganda. Another collaboration was initiated with
Dr Mukhethwa Munzhedzi and Mulalo Raphalalani
at their graduation. Professor Jason Farley of Johns Hopkins University,
USA. This collaboration led to grant funding
for a project entitled "Undisclosed Exposure to
Antiretrovirals and Impact on treatment outcomes".
We also published an observational study that
showed that the UNAIDS goal of achieving 95% viral
load suppression in individuals on treatment by 2030
is not being met in a cohort from Limpopo Province.
Recommendations for enhanced adherence and
drug resistance testing are suggested for those
who fail treatment early on. Through a systematic
review, we showed, using Escherichia coli antibiotic
resistance profiles as a proxy, that 'younger infants
show lower microbiota diversity and higher antibiotic
resistance gene abundance compared to older
infants and adults.
Building Capacity Through
Training, Mentorship, and Support
In the reporting period, the postgraduate student
training component comprised of five MSc and four
Ms Mulalo Raphalalani, MSc graduate PhD students, with two students (one MSc and one
(Microbiology). PhD) graduated. The Unit also organised a training
workshop which was delivered by Cochrane South
42 SAMRC ANNUAL REPOR T 2024-25
