South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde
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Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common infections during pregnancy, which can lead to significant maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality if left untreated. Challenges when treating UTIs in pregnancy include fetal protection and resistance development of uropathogens. Currently, the Essential Medicines List recommends nitrofurantoin to treat cystitis and ceftriaxone to treat pyelonephritis in pregnant women. ⋯ E. coli is unsurprisingly the most common cause of UTI in pregnancy in KwaZulu-Natal. Susceptibility to ceftriaxone and nitrofurantoin remains good. Among Gram positives, GBS is prevalent and susceptible to penicillin, while E. faecalis is susceptible to ampicillin. As antimicrobial resistance evolves, routine surveillance is necessary to modify recommended empirical antibiotic use.
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Human rabies cases continue to be reported annually in South Africa (SA). Previous investigations have shown the association between the occurrence of human rabies cases and dog rabies cases in the country. ⋯ The epidemiological trends of human rabies cases reported in SA for the period 2008 - 2018 remained largely the same as in previous reports. Dog-mediated rabies remains the main source of human rabies in SA.
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Unspoken victims: A national study of male rape incidents and police investigations in South Africa.
The burden of sexual violence has been well described in children of both sexes and in women, but there is minimal literature on adult male rape victims. Studies of adult male rape victims have mainly been conducted among incarcerated males or military personnel, and in high-income countries. ⋯ While there is political commitment to understanding sexual violence against women as a societal problem, work on such violence against men lags behind and is little understood. Rape of males needs to be acknowledged, and their vulnerabilities to sexual abuse and rape need to be addressed. Prevention efforts to end violence against women and girls, especially in relation to children, can be used to address violence against men and boys.