Susan Nzenze
A5074202120- Pneumonia and Respiratory Infections
- Respiratory viral infections research
- Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia detection and treatment
- Bacterial Infections and Vaccines
- Influenza Virus Research Studies
- Autopsy Techniques and Outcomes
- Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
- Emergency and Acute Care Studies
- Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
- HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions
- Health and Medical Studies
- Streptococcal Infections and Treatments
- Antibiotics Pharmacokinetics and Efficacy
- Mycobacterium research and diagnosis
- Reproductive tract infections research
- Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy
- Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology
- Mobile Health and mHealth Applications
- Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Issues
- Diphtheria, Corynebacterium, and Tetanus
- Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Hepatitis Viruses Studies and Epidemiology
- Neonatal and fetal brain pathology
- Genital Health and Disease
National Health Laboratory Service
2013-2024
University of the Witwatersrand
2014-2023
National Institute for Communicable Diseases
2023
South African Medical Research Council
2023
Perinatal HIV Research Unit
2018-2023
National Research Foundation
2014-2022
Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit
2011-2022
Praekelt Foundation
2019
University of Cape Town
2016
Gavi
2016
Invasive pneumococcal disease remains an important health priority owing to increasing incidence caused by pneumococci expressing non-vaccine serotypes. We previously defined 621 Global Pneumococcal Sequence Clusters (GPSCs) analysing 20 027 isolates collected worldwide and from published genomic data. In this study, we aimed investigate the lineages behind predominant serotypes, mechanism of serotype replacement in disease, as well major contributing invasive post-vaccine era their...
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines have reduced the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease, caused by vaccine serotypes, but non-vaccine-serotypes remain a concern. We used whole genome sequencing to study serotype, antibiotic resistance and invasiveness, in context genetic background.Our dataset 13,454 genomes, combined with four published genomic datasets, represented Africa (40%), Asia (25%), Europe (19%), North America (12%), South (5%). These 20,027 genomes were clustered into lineages...
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common nasopharyngeal colonizer, but can also cause life-threatening invasive diseases such as empyema, bacteremia and meningitis. Genetic variation of host pathogen known to play role in pneumococcal disease, though what extent unknown. In genome-wide association study human we show that explains almost half susceptibility meningitis one-third severity, identifying variants CCDC33 associated with susceptibility. Pneumococcal genetic large amount potential...
Background: Data on the epidemiology of viral-associated acute lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) from high HIV prevalence settings are limited. We aimed to describe LRTI hospitalizations among South African children aged <5 years. Methods: prospectively enrolled hospitalized with physician-diagnosed 5 sites in 4 provinces 2009 2012. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), nasopharyngeal aspirates were tested for 10 viruses and blood pneumococcal DNA. Incidence was estimated at 1 site...
Abstract Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of pneumonia and meningitis worldwide. Many different serotypes co-circulate endemically in any one location 1,2 . The extent mechanisms spread vaccine-driven changes fitness antimicrobial resistance remain largely unquantified. Here using geolocated genome sequences from South Africa ( n = 6,910, collected 2000 to 2014), we developed models reconstruct spread, pairing detailed human mobility data genomic data. Separately, estimated the...
The public health impact of rotavirus vaccination in African settings with a high human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection prevalence is yet to be established. We evaluated trends all-cause diarrheal hospitalizations Soweto, Johannesburg, before and after the introduction vaccine into South Africa's national immunization program August 2009.
Knowledge of pneumococcal lineages, their geographic distribution and antibiotic resistance patterns, can give insights into global disease. We provide interactive bioinformatic outputs to explore such topics, aiming increase dissemination genomic the wider community, without need for specialist training. prepared 12 country-specific phylogenetic snapshots, international snapshots 73 common Global Pneumococcal Sequence Clusters (GPSCs) previously defined using PopPUNK, present them in...
Abstract Background Postmortem minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS) is a potential alternative to the gold standard complete diagnostic autopsy for identifying specific causes of childhood deaths. We investigated utility MITS, interpreted with available clinical data, attributing underlying and immediate neonatal Methods This prospective, observational pilot study enrolled deaths at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Soweto, South Africa. The MITS included needle core-biopsy...
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) immunization of children decreases their risk nasopharyngeal acquisition serotypes. We studied the impact routine infant PCV alone on epidemiology pneumococcal colonization among a rural African community with high prevalence HIV positivity.Two cross-sectional surveys were undertaken in South from May to October 2009 (period 1) and 2011 2). Seven-valent was introduced into public program for infants April 2009, without catch-up campaign older children....
We investigated the impact of infant pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) immunization on colonization among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected and HIV-uninfected mother-child pairs.Pneumococcal was assessed in May 2010-February 2011 (period 1; 7-valent PCV era) 2012-April 2013 2; 13-valent era). Standard microbiological methods were used for pneumococcus isolation serotyping.In children 0-12 years, PCV13-serotype decreased from period 1 to 2 (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.32; 95%...
Multidrug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae emerge through the modification of core genome loci by interspecies homologous recombinations, and acquisition gene cassettes. Both occurred in otherwise contrasting histories antibiotic-resistant S. lineages PMEN3 PMEN9. A single clade spread globally, evading vaccine-induced immunity frequent serotype switching, whereas locally circulating PMEN9 clades independently gained resistance. repeatedly integrated Tn 916 -type 1207.1 elements,...
Pneumococcal disease, which presents a substantial health and economic burden, is prevented through pneumococcal vaccination programs. We assessed the impact of switching from 13-valent-based (PCV13) to lower 10-valent-based (PCV10-GlaxoSmithKline [GSK] or PCV10-Serum Institute India [SII]) higher-valent (PCV15 PCV20) programs in South Africa. A previously published decision-analytic model was adapted African setting. Historical invasive disease (IPD) incidence data were used project IPD...
<h3>Introduction</h3> We evaluated pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) effectiveness against hospitalisation for presumed bacterial pneumonia (PBP) in HIV-uninfected South African children. 7-valent PCV was introduced April 2009 using a 2+1 schedule (doses at age 6, 14 and 39 weeks), superseded with 13-valent May 2011. <h3>Methods</h3> A matched case–control study conducted three public hospitals (Soweto, Cape Town KwaZulu-Natal) between August 2012. PBP cases had either WHO defined...
Current estimates for causes of childhood deaths are mainly premised on modeling vital registration and limited verbal autopsy data generally only characterize the underlying cause death (CoD). We investigated potential minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS) ascertaining immediate CoD in children 1 month to 14 years age.MITS included postmortem biopsies brain, liver, lung histopathology examination; microbial culture blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), samples; molecular testing CSF, lung,...
The limited capability in most low- to middle-income countries study the benefit of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) protecting against invasive disease (IPD) calls for alternate strategies assess this. We used a mathematical model predict direct and indirect effectiveness PCV by analyzing serotype-specific colonization prevalence IPD incidence prior following childhood immunization South Africa. analyzed from 2005 2012 studies undertaken human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-uninfected...
Pneumococcal disease outbreaks of vaccine preventable serotype 4 sequence type (ST)801 in shipyards have been reported several countries. We aimed to use genomics establish any international links between them.Sequence data from ST801-related outbreak isolates Norway (n = 17), Finland 11) and Northern Ireland 2) were combined with invasive pneumococcal surveillance the respective countries, genomes an collection 41 > 40,000), totalling 106 genomes. Raw mapped recombination excluded before...
Objective To assess the impact of immunization with pneumococcal conjugate vaccines on all-cause pneumonia hospitalizations among children in Soweto, South Africa.Methods We used data collected at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital Soweto between 2006 and 2014 -i.e.before after April 2009, when a vaccine was first included Africa's routine programme.Using Bayesian generalized seasonal autoregressive moving-average model 2006-2008, we estimated numbers that would have been hospitalized for 2010...
Despite approximately 2.6 million stillbirths occurring annually, there is a paucity of systematic biological investigation and consequently knowledge on the causes these deaths in low- middle-income countries (LMICs). We investigated utility minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS), placental examination, clinical history, attributing stillbirth South African LMIC setting.
We evaluated pneumococcal colonization in children and adults between the time of 7-valent conjugate vaccine (PCV) introduction immunization program 2009 to two years after transitioning PCV13 2011.Community-based carriage surveillance was undertaken May-November 2013 (Period-3), with similar surveys (Period-1) 2011 (Period-2). Households below had a probability being sampled all surveys. Nasopharyngeal swabs were processed using standard methods serotyped by Quellung.In children>9-59 months...
Pneumonia is a leading cause of child morbidity and death. Data on risk factors can guide prevention efforts. Within study pneumococcal conjugate vaccine effectiveness, we investigated for presumed bacterial pneumonia (PBP).PBP cases were human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) uninfected children with lower respiratory tract infection consolidation chest radiograph or nonconsolidated infiltrate C-reactive protein ≥40 mg/L hospitalized at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH) in...
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major human pathogen responsible for over 317000 deaths in children <5 years of age with the burden disease being highest low- and middle-income countries including South Africa. Following introduction 7-valent 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) Africa 2009 2011, respectively, decrease both invasive infections asymptomatic carriage vaccine-type pneumococci were reported. In this study, we described changing epidemiology population Africa, by...