South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde
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The COVID-19 pandemic, first reported in December 2019, affected every sector of every country worldwide. Health services were the first to experience the direct impact. Blood services were advised to decrease blood utilisation in anticipation of reduced blood collections. The South African National Blood Services (SANBS) saw a substantial decline in blood demand following the institution of strict national lockdown measures, but the impact of the epidemic and various mitigation strategies remained unknown. ⋯ There was a significant change in RBC utilisation during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, much more pronounced in the public sector, which services 85% of the SA population. During the post-acute COVID-19 period, blood utilisation recovered, but at a much slower rate in the public sector. The COVID-19 pandemic accentuated the differences in blood utilisation patterns between the public and private healthcare sectors in SA, and each sector's resilience in adapting to the challenges of the epidemic.
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Case Reports
Case report: First reported case of spondylodiscitis caused by Gemella morbillorum in South Africa.
Pyogenic spondylodiscitis is an uncommon but important clinical condition that often requires medical and/or surgical management. We report a case of spondylodiscitis caused by a rare pathogen, Gemella morbillorum. To date, worldwide, only six such cases of confirmed spondylodiscitis infection with this rare pathogen have been documented, and this is the first reported case in South Africa. ⋯ Tissue cultures from a biopsy identified G. morbillorum species infection, and she was treated successfully with antibiotics for 6 weeks. It is important to have a high index of suspicion when a patient has a history of dental work, and to rule out associated infection such as endocarditis. Treatment with culture-driven antibiotics yields good results.
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Golf club-related traumatic brain injuries are an uncommon occurrence in adults, and the use of golf clubs as a weapon of interpersonal assault resulting in compound skull fractures is rare. ⋯ This study highlights the potential dangers of golf clubs as a weapon of interpersonal assault, and the need for prompt and appropriate management of compound skull fractures to reduce the risk of complications.
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Case Reports
Case report: First reported case of spondylodiscitis caused by Gemella morbillorum in South Africa.
Pyogenic spondylodiscitis is an uncommon but important clinical condition that often requires medical and/or surgical management. We report a case of spondylodiscitis caused by a rare pathogen, Gemella morbillorum. To date, worldwide, only six such cases of confirmed spondylodiscitis infection with this rare pathogen have been documented, and this is the first reported case in South Africa. ⋯ Tissue cultures from a biopsy identified G. morbillorum species infection, and she was treated successfully with antibiotics for 6 weeks. It is important to have a high index of suspicion when a patient has a history of dental work, and to rule out associated infection such as endocarditis. Treatment with culture-driven antibiotics yields good results.