G-CQT4R3X2EH ICAN Congress: Part 2 - Microbe Mail

Episode 75

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Published on:

2nd Sep 2025

ICAN Congress: Part 2

In this special edition, we take you inside the Infection Control African Network Congress 2025, held in beautiful Cape Town from 29 June to 2 July.

Vin was on the ground capturing the energy, innovation, and passion driving infection prevention and control (IPC) across Africa and beyond. From cutting edge updates in infection control programs to inspiring discussions on IPC education, this episode is packed with insights straight from the experts.

And for an extra twist, three conference attendees stepped up as momentary messengers for the day, bringing fresh perspectives as they interviewed some of the most fascinating voices at the congress.

Our adhoc hosts:

Dr Lesego Mothibi

Dr Gilda Madeira

Dr Julia Phambane

About our Guests:

  • Dr Amanda Khumalo FCPath, DTM&H, Clinical Microbiologist PathCare Laboratories, see bio HERE: The role of the HCW in breaking the chain of infection
  • Dr Ifeyinwa Nwafia, Clinical Microbiologist, Management Sciences for Health, Nigeria : Assessment of the Pattern of Antimicrobial Use Among Hospitalized Patients in 16 Nigerian Hospitals: a Strategy to Improve Antimicrobial Stewardship Programme
  • Mr David Frederick, Pharmaceutical technologist, Malindi Sub-County Hospital, Kenya, Best Poster Winner ICAN25: Building a foundation
  • Mrs Briette du Toit Ludick, PG Infection Prevention and Control, MSc IPC: Cost effectiveness of implementing an environmental Cleaning programme
  • Tawanda Mutiwazuka, Medical Virologist, The Avenues Clinic, Zimbabwe, Reflecting on the ICAN25 congress.

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About the Podcast

Microbe Mail
Microbiology & Infectious Diseases Podcast
Are you looking for a medical podcast covering every day issues in diagnostic tests, antimicrobial therapy and management of infections that is relevant to a low or middle income setting? A show that simplifies complex concepts in an easy to follow conversational format? You've come to the right place. This is Microbe Mail - a medical podcast for the busy practitioner or student covering topics in microbiology, infectious diseases and infection control.
Sign up to our newsletter to receive updates on new episode releases at: https://microbemail.captivate.fm/
Contact us at mail.microbe@gmail.com

About your hosts

Juhi Panday

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Dr. Juhi Panday is a Research Co-investigator and Medical Officer. She holds Postgraduate Diplomas in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene, and HIV Management, as well as a Professional Master’s in Infectious Diseases and Antibiotic Therapy. Her passion lies in antimicrobial resistance, infectious and neglected tropical conditions. She is eager to merge her interest with the work of the Microbe Mail team!

Vindana Chibabhai

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Vin is an Associate Professor in the Division of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (CMID), Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa and a practising clinical microbiologist with the National Health Laboratory Service. She is passionate about microbes (of course), antimicrobial resistance, antimicrobial stewardship, diagnostics, healthcare associated infections, fungal infections, One Health...let's just say it's a very long list!

She is always looking for new ways to engage with clinicians and improve their understanding of microbiology and infections. This podcast is the perfect way to do just that!

She loves to be involved in research which will impact management of infections in lower-middle income settings. On Microbe Mail episodes, her views are her own.

Tshiama Miriam Mwamba

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Jamie Colloty

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Jamie is a medical officer/sub-investigator currently based at Wits VIDA (Vaccine and Infectious Disease Analytics) Nkanyezi Research site at Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital, Johannesburg. She has completed her Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (Wits), Diploma in HIV Management (CMSA), and is undertaking her Masters in Public Health through Imperial College London, with a research focus on culture-confirmed neonatal sepsis and meningitis cases in Johannesburg. She is passionate about antimicrobial stewardship and resistance, as well as the role of climate change on emerging infectious diseases. She is excited to combine her interest in microbiology with the work of the Microbe Mail team!

Nonkululeko Mntla

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"Just call me Nonks".
Despite her proudly South African name being as much of a tongue twister as one of the fascinating organisms she often works with, (Iooking at you Stenotrophomonas maltophilia), she is simply mad about Micro. "How interesting it is to be able to identify what organism is causing an infection, to know how it is causing the infection, what therapy can be used against it, what to do if the organism counterattacks with its arsenal of resistance mechanisms, and how to prevent that organism from spreading. That's what I enjoy most, but there is so much more."

Nonks is a Clinical Microbiologist based in Johannesburg, working in the private field; and is affiliated with the University of the Witwatersrand. She has a passion for bridging the understanding between the pathology noted in the laboratory and the patient at the bedside.

Esther Simone

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Esther is a researcher, writer and podcast editor. She holds a degree in the arts and is currently pursuing a qualification in psychology.
In her own words "The choice to join Microbemail as editor was the easiest one I've ever made. The podcast is fascinating and I learn so much each time I sit down to edit. I see it as a valuable addition to the toolbox of any clinician."

Fathima Suleman

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Dr. Fathima Suleman is a junior doctor, who works in a KZN-based hospital's Microbiology department. She is underway with a Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Her interest lie in antimicrobial stewardship and infectious diseases. She is passionate about bridging the gap between laboratory medicine and clinical medicine. Coming from a background of graphic design, she is eager to add flare to the Microbe Mail social media.

Ruan Marais

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Ruan is a Clinical Microbiologist with dual fellowships in Medical Microbiology and Medical Virology from the South African College of Pathologists, a MSc in virology from Imperial College London and is working towards his PhD in Bioinformatics at the University of Cape Town (UCT). He is currently a Crick Africa Network Career Acceleration Fellow and contributing investigator at CIDRI based at UCT with work focusing on the development of novel molecular techniques and software for infectious disease diagnostics and their translation to clinical care. Views expressed on the Microbe Mail podcast are his own.

Vinitha Alex

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Dr. Vinitha Alex is a Clinical Microbiologist based in Johannesburg, South Africa and a Microbiology lecturer affiliated to the University of the Witwatersrand. Her particular areas of interest are antimicrobial stewardship, diagnostic stewardship, infection prevention and control, healthcare informatics, medical training and research and development.
She is keen on taking clinical microbiology to the grass root level, making it understandable & accessible to healthcare providers, particularly in areas of low expertise/ specialist availability. She is passionate about improving guideline compliance, fighting the spread of antimicrobial resistance and creating a system that makes good health economic sense.