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07 January 2018
Photo Charl Devenish
The work of Dr Anneke van der Spoel van Dijk investigates the spread of TB in the Free State population using techniques such as next generation sequencing, spoligotyping and MIRU-VNTR typing. Dr Van der Spoel van Dijk, a senior medical scientist in the Department of Medical Microbiology at the University of the Free State (UFS) also looks at drug resistance in her research. This work informs decisions about how best to treat patients with multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB).
She employs rapid molecular techniques to track one of Africa’s most serious diseases, tuberculosis (TB).
Drug resistance
Scientists assist the National Health Laboratory Service and Department of Health in trying to refine the diagnostic tools to identify these cases earlier. Dr Van der Spoel van Dijk explains: “Until recently, it took up to two years to fine-tune treatment decisions for patients with MDR-TB. Patients get a cocktail of anti-TB drugs, but it takes time to find the right combination. Re-infection and relapse (patients stopping treatment for several reasons) add to the diagnostic and treatment management challenges.
Enormous impact
“Now doctors can reduce the time needed for diagnostic certainty to about seven days, while new drugs allow reduction of treatment from more than 18 to nine months. This can have an enormous impact on the life of many patients.”
Dr Van der Spoel van Dijk’s work forms part of research in the faculty looking at resistance development in TB strains. She is currently also doing her doctoral thesis on the differences and incidence of MDR-TB among adolescents versus adults. Dr Van der Spoel van Dijk says: “It is a complicated picture, but we hope to unravel it to support better diagnostic tools and patient care.”
As part of the National Health Laboratory Service, her department is playing an important role in TB diagnostics and the training of scientists and future pathologists. “Our work is contributing to the global vision to stop TB by 2035,” Dr Van der Spoel van Dijk says.
Wellness programme on the Main Campus
2006-05-16
The Wellness Committee at the University of the Free State (UFS) presents a wellness programme on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein today and tomorrow. The theme is "Go for gold" and the topics to be discussed include how to make stress work for you, the importance of exercising and the importance of a healthy diet. Later this week staff will take part in a fun walk and volley ball competition.
As part of the programme staff are given the opportunity to get among others, their blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure tested. Seated from the left are Ms Lorraine Meintjies (nurse from Discovery), Prof Niel Viljoen (Chief Director: Operations at the UFS). Standing from the left are Dr Louis Holtzhausen (Director: UFS Sport and Exercise Science Medicine Clinic) and Dr Tiesie de Coning (motivational speaker).
Photo: Lacea Loader