Study finds low hand hygiene compliance in ICUs
Healthcare workers on intensive care units (ICUs) are
regularly missing opportunities to clean their hands during the care of
patients, despite its critical importance for infection...
Superbugs: Have you checked your patient’s hands?
While the focus on the prevention of multi-drug antibiotic-resistant
bacteria has been on getting doctors, nurses and other staff working with
patients to follow strict handwashing...
First dedicated haematology unit opened in Johannesburg
The first dedicated private haematology
unit in greater Johannesburg for the diagnosis and treatment of the full range
of acute and chronic blood cancers and other...
Transkei Outreach: urgent need for first aid kits
An outreach initiative in the Transkei which has had a considerable impact particularly on the educational front, is now requiring assistance to bolster the...
Hospital staff errors with gowns, gloves spread bacteria
Healthcare workers caring for infectious patients sometimes make mistakes when removing personal protective garments, resulting in contamination of clothes or equipment with antibiotic-resistant bacteria,...
Using the arts to help critical-care health professionals cope
For doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals, the psychological toll of their environment, as well covered in Med Brief Africa in recent weeks, can...
SIU to investigate ‘cash for qualifications’ allegations at HPCSA
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is awaiting the
president’s go-ahead to investigate allegations that Health Professions Council
of South Africa (HPSCA) employees may have taken bribes...
CMS “irritated, concerned” about Conduct of Financial Institutions Bill
The Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) has rejected the new
Conduct of Financial Institutions Bill (COFI), saying it will encroach on the
regulatory framework for medical...
SAHRC to sign agreement with Gauteng Health on fixing problems in...
The SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) says it hopes to sign
an agreement with the Gauteng Health Department after the elections on solutions
to address the...
Sick and tired: Doctor wellness in SA needs critical care
As we observe World Health Day on 7 April, health and
wellness is on everyone’s minds. But a question seldom asked is: Who cares for
the...
Cannabis products used differ for cancer, non-cancer patients
The forms of medical cannabis used vary for patients with and without cancer, a study published online in the Journal of Palliative Medicine has noted
Arum...
Patients with worse RA symptoms more likely to cut alcohol intake
Higher disease activity, disability, comorbidity, and poor quality of life contribute to reductions in alcohol use among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to...
Paracetamol may increase stroke risk for older adults with diabetes
Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is one of the most widely used
pain relievers. Almost 60 years of widespread use have made it a household
product. It’s distributed over...
Biometrics could improve patient care, reduce medical fraud
The idea of using biometrics in the healthcare sector is not
new, but it is one that hasn’t been explored or exploited to its full
potential.
A...
Board of Healthcare Funders MD DR KATLEGO MOTHUDI: ‘Many areas where...
Being appointed Managing Director of the Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF) in September 2017 could well have been perceived as a natural progression for...
SA medical schemes in good health: Alexander Forbes
South Africa's largest medical schemes - both open and
restricted - are in good shape and have sufficient reserves to pay members'
claims, according to Alexander...
Staff movement, door openings during surgery linked to higher SSI risk
A study published in Infection Control &
Hospital Epidemiology has established a possible link between an increased
risk of surgical site infections (SSIs) and the movement of...
Top stories you may have missed
Here are some of the articles Med Brief Africa readers found the most interesting in the past week