This report contains a snapshot of the use and impact of antibiotics in the environment. Surveillance within the water-plant-food interface remains limited in South Africa currently, although research is being done in various aspects e.g., identification and characterisation of multidrug-resistant potential foodborne pathogens from fresh produce and irrigation water. Increased capacity and integration into other structures will need to be investigated to improve the surveillance capacity in this area.

Purpose This guide is to be used by employers or self-employed persons to assess the potential risk of exposure to COVID-19 infection and control measures at all workplaces.

South African National TB Guidelines - Adults (Information Sheet)

The South African National Department of Health (NDoH) has endorsed Medical Male Circumcision (MMC) as an HIV prevention strategy for men in South Africa. These technical guidelines,  adapted from World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, are intended for health care workers and program managers to provide universal, integrated, safe and accessible voluntary MMC services.

This guide includes the current STI syndromic management algorithms. STIs are preventable and many are treatable. Early access to care helps prevent further transmission to partners and from mother-to-child, acquisition of additional STIs, and decreases the risk of STI related complications. Screening for STIs at any and all health care visits, can promote STI prevention and management and provide an opportunity for additional health promotion and education. Where possible, STI screening and prevention should become routine and integrated into all health visits.

This guide describes how to reduce the risk of far-field airborne transmission of COVID-19 through improved ventilation. The guide is based on the most current data and scientific guidance available at the time of writing (December 2021). This guide applies to all healthcare facilities and should be used by infection, prevention, and control (IPC) and facility managers.  Ventilation is a process by which a portion of outdoor air is supplied into and extracted from an indoor space for the purposes of diluting and removing indoor contaminants. 

The Referral Policy for South African Health Services, including the supporting Referral Implementation Guidelines, has been developed to address the gaps identified in processing and facilitating timely referral of patients within the healthcare delivery system. This policy strives to restore the dignity of the users of the South African healthcare system, without being punitive to users from impoverished and rural areas. This will serve as one more definitive step towards achieving the vision in the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

The new recommended isolation period for patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection is reduced from 14 to 10 days. This recommendation is based on evidence that most patients with a mild COVID-19 infection continue to shed the virus from their upper airways for approximately 7-12 days. Furthermore, the presence of detectable virus when testing does not necessarily imply infectiousness. It has been proven that in mild cases, virus cultures are generally only positive for 8-9 days after symptom onset. The duration of infectiousness in patients with severe disease (i.e.

On 19 June 2020, the National Department of Health released a statement titled, Follow up statement on Dexamethasone by the Minister of Health. The statement summarised the outcomes of the Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 therapy (RECOVER) Trial, which reported benefit from the use of Dexamethasone in the patients with severe COVID-19. Based on the available results of the RECOVERY Trial, Dexamethasone is recommended in COVID-19 patients who require respiratory support only (i.e. those requiring ventilation or other forms of oxygen therapy).

The Quality Improvement (QI) Guide aims to encourage a shared understanding and approach to quality improvement across all health establishments. Together with the National Core Standards, the tools provided in this QI Guide aim to assist quality coordinators, managers and supervisors of both hospitals and clinics to ensure quality of care in our health care delivery system.