Who is the Department of Medical Microbiology?


The Department of Medical Microbiology and Virology was a single department until the Division of Virology was established in the last term of 2017. The Department of Medical Microbiology provides:

  • diagnostic services
  • training for undergraduate and postgraduate medical students 
  • research programmes
  • clinical consultation service for infectious diseases

Infectious diseases continue to be one of the most important factors impacting on man's well-being. With changes in patterns of infectious diseases and the emergence of new infectious agents, the relevance of Medical Microbiology as a discipline has never been greater. The demands on the department therefore to provide excellent and relevant training, diagnostic and research services have accordingly increased. We are positive about future possibilities and are ready for the challenges that lie ahead.

Mission

It is the responsibility of the Department of Medical Microbiology

  • to provide excellent diagnostic and support services to patients, the community and clinical colleagues,
  • to remain informed with regard to new developments, to evaluate critically and implement where applicable, new laboratory techniques and methods,
  • to undertake research and to collaborate with technical, academic and research staff in Faculties of Health Sciences, nationally and internationally, and
  • to maintain a high standard of training and education.
Vision

It is the vision of the Department of Medical Microbiology 

  • to create an environment where staff members can develop their full potential,
  • to develop, through appropriate and quality training clinicians, medical technologists, scientists, lecturers and staff who will be able to fulfil positions and benefit any community or institution worldwide,
  • to expand and improve the existing technical, diagnostic and support services to patients and clinical staff,
  • to initiate and be involved in research projects that contribute to promoting the department as an institution of excellence capable of and prepared to form partnerships/agreements with national and international institutions and companies for the ultimate advantage of the community, patients, students, clinicians and scientists.

Research milestones or publications

Dr B van der Westhuizen

  1. Publication 2025: African Journal of Thoracic and Critical Care Medicine

    Editorial

    • Molecular techniques vs conventional culture: Should there really be a debate? Afr J Thoracic Crit Care Med 2025;31(2): e3653. https://doi.org/10.7196/AJTCCM.2025.v31i2.3653
    • Van der Westhuizen B, Kennedy S, Budding L, Potgieter S. Culture-positive mold infections in patients with haemato-oncological diseases. S. Afr. j. oncol. 2025; 9(0), a322. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajo.v9i0.322
  2. Publication 2025: South African Journal of Oncology
  3. Publication 2025: Case reports in Pathology
  • Saksenaea oblingispora Rhinosinusitis in advanced HIV infection: A Rare and Lethal Mucormycosis. Bonita van der Westhuizen et al. Case Reports in Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.https://doi.org/10.1155/crip/3227863

    Dr J Wadula

    SARS-CoV-2 Ct values and COVID-19 symptoms in patients with haematological malignancies in South Africa. Sothoane KL, Van Blydenstein SA, Philip V, Wadula J. S Afr J Infect Dis. 2025;40(1), a676

    A five-year retrospective antibiogram review in the paediatric burns unit at a tertiary hospital. Moodley MM, Jaglal P, Wadula J. Burns Open. 2024. 8 (3): 204-210

    The clinical spectrum of Viridans Group Streptococci infection in paediatric patients at a tertiary hospital. Shongwe N, Mabena FC, Wadula J, Petersen K. S Afr J Infect Dis. 2024; 39 (1).563

    Assessment of three combination regimens against Gram-negative bacteria causing neonatal sepsis in low- and middle-income countries. Boceska BK, Vilken T, Xavier BB, Kostyanev T, Lin Q et al. Nat Comm. 2024. 15:3947

    Student or staff achievements

    Dr B van der Westhuizen

    1. UFS Faculty Forum 2025: Poster presentation WINNER: Best senior laboratory poster
  • Saksenaea oblingispora Rhinosinusitis in advanced HIV infection: A Rare and Lethal Mucormycosis.

Workshops, conferences, or events

Department of Medical Microbiology Hosts Bacteriology and Parasitology Workshop

The Department of Medical Microbiology hosted a highly successful Bacteriology and Parasitology Workshop from 6–8 August 2025, under the leadership of the Head of Department, Dr Jeannette Wadula.

The three-day event brought together a diverse group of participants, including technologists, technicians, registrars, and infectious diseases fellows. A total of 30 attendees from across South Africa took part, with the largest representation coming from the Northwest Province.

The sessions were led by Dr Wadula (Head of Department), Dr Pillay (Consultant in Medical Microbiology), and Dr Chu (Consultant in Medical Microbiology). They were ably supported by three experienced technologists from the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital Department of Medical Microbiology.

The workshop provided hands-on training across key diagnostic benches, including the blood culture and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) bench, the pus bench (covering a wide range of clinical samples), and parasitology. The programme was designed to strengthen technical competence, enhance collaboration, and bridge the knowledge gap between clinical staff and laboratory teams.

Dr Wadula emphasized the importance of ongoing skills development in microbiology, noting that such workshops are crucial to supporting both clinical care and laboratory excellence. The department intends to host this workshop at least once annually, with the goal of expanding to twice a year to meet growing demand.

The positive feedback from participants highlights the value of this initiative in fostering professional growth and strengthening the diagnostic capacity of microbiology laboratories across the country.

Dr B van der Westhuizen

  1. PathRed National congress (2025): Sprint poster presentation
    • Saksenaea oblingispora Rhinosinusitis in advanced HIV infection: A Rare and Lethal Mucormycosis.
  2. ESCMID Global (International) Congress: Vienna Austria 2025: Poster presentations
  • A case series: The distribution, patient characteristics, therapy, and patient outcome in culture-positive invasive Mold infections in patients with hematological conditions in a tertiary hospital in the Free State province, South Africa. (Main author)
  • A case series: The distribution, patient characteristics, therapy, and patient outcome in culture-positive invasive Mold infections in HIV positive patients in a tertiary hospital in the Free State province, South Africa. (Main author)

Dr C Yat Chu

PathRed National Congress (2025): A member of the discipline advisory committee for medical microbiology.

Dr J Musoke, Dr O Adelabu and Ms Z Skosana

  1. MSSM Students: 2025 Student Faculty Research Forum, 26 August 2025
    • Olivier Thomas Ignatius, van der Spoel van Dijk Anneke, van Rooyen Cornel, Coetzee Mia,De Boer Franko, Krüger Anné, Loggenberg Marné, Mosholi Rethabile, Ndleleni Sisanda, Divan Rossouw, Setlhare Leole, Fanampe Boitumelo, Skosana Zothile, Treatment Outcomes of Drug-resistant Tuberculosis in the Free State Province (2017- 2021).
    • Intern Medical scientists: 2025 Faculty Research Forum, 28-29 August 2025
      • Dube L Sindiswa, Skosana T. Zothile, Adelabu O. Adeyemi, Musoke Jolly, Department of Microbiology, School of Pathology, UFS and NHLS, Molecular evaluation of colistin-resistance mechanisms in clinical isolates at Universitas Academic Laboratory. oral presentation.
        • A. Papiyana, Z. Skosana, O. Adelabu, J. Musoke, Department of Microbiology, School of Pathology, UFS and NHLS, Investigating the prevalence of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae in Universitas Academic Laboratory, Free State, South Africa, sprint oral poster presentation 
        • Dreamed Study, Stellenbosch Collaboration Study, PathRed Congress, 02-05 October 2025
          • Bonga Sibabalwe Periwinkle, Skosana Zothile, Malinga Kamogelo, van der Spoel van Dijk Anneke, van Schalkwyk Jamie, Theron Grant, Venter Rouxjeane Department of Microbiology, School of Pathology, UFS and NHLS USING XPERT® MTB/RIF ULTRA RESIDUAL DNA ON XPERT MTB/XDR THAT ALLOWS FOR COMPLETE DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY TESTING. ePoster Presentation
          • Intern Medical scientists PathRed Congress, 02-05 October 2025
          • Dube L Sindiswa, Skosana T. Zothile, Adelabu O. Adeyemi, Musoke Jolly Department of Microbiology, School of Pathology, UFS and NHLS, Molecular evaluation of colistin-resistance mechanisms in clinical isolates at Universitas Academic Laboratory. ePoster Presentation
          • A. Papiyana, Z. Skosana, O. Adelabu, J. Musoke, Department of Microbiology, School of Pathology, UFS and NHLS, Investigating the prevalence of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae in Universitas Academic Laboratory, Free State, South Africa. ePoster Presentation

          New projects, appointments, or collaborations

          1. The Department of Medical Microbiology has appointed:
            • Dr Dharshni Pillay as Pathologist
            • Dr Nwabisa La-toya Silwana as Pathologist
            • Ms Bongiwe Zwane as Secretary, Academic Department

               

          2. Proposal for Funding: Expansion and Upgrade of the BSL-3 Laboratory for Integrated One Health Diagnostics and Research
            • Submitted by: Department of Medical Microbiology, Universitas, in collaboration with the TB One Health Unit at the Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (NAS). Date: 6th June 2025.

              Awaiting Feedback from FHS

          3. Proposal for Funding: Expansion and Upgrade of Laboratory Equipment for the establishment of a Biobank and a molecular laboratory
          • Submitted by: Department of Medical Microbiology, Universitas, in collaboration with Cryptococcus Laboratory Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. Date: 8th June 2025.

          Awaiting Feedback from FHS


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          E: StudentAdminFHS@ufs.ac.za

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