scholarly journals Prehospital acute traumatic pain assessment and management practices in the Western Cape, South Africa: a retrospective review

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrit Lourens ◽  
Romy Parker ◽  
Peter Hodkinson
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Pain Assessment ◽  
Retrospective Review ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Western Cape

scholarly journals Acute pain assessment and management in the prehospital setting, in the Western Cape, South Africa: A Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Survey

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrit Lourens ◽  
Peter Hodkinson ◽  
Romy Parker
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Emergency Care ◽  
Pain Assessment ◽  
Prehospital Setting ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Attitudes And Practices ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Pain Care ◽  
Knowledge Attitudes And Practices

Abstract Background: Acute pain is frequently encountered in the prehospital setting, and therefore, a fundamental aspect of quality emergency care. Research has shown a positive association between health care providers’ knowledge of, and attitudes towards pain and pain management practices. This study aimed to describe the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of emergency care providers regarding acute pain assessment and management in the prehospital setting, in the Western Cape, South Africa. The specific objectives were to, identify gaps in pain knowledge; assess attitudes regarding pain assessment and management; describe pain assessment and management behaviours and practices; and identify barriers to and enablers of pain care. Methods: A web-based descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among emergency care providers of all qualifications, using a face-validated Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Pain survey. Results: Responses of 100 participants was included in the analysis. The survey response rate could not be calculated. The mean age of respondents was 34.74 (SD8.13) years and the mean years’ experience 10.02 (SD6.47). Most respondents were male (69%), employed in the public/government sector (93%) as operational practitioners (85%) with 54% of respondents having attended medical education on pain care in the last two years. The mean percentage for knowledge and attitudes regarding pain among emergency care providers was 58.01% (SD15.66) with gaps identified in various aspects of pain and pain care. Practitioners with higher qualifications, more years’ experience and those who did not attend medical education on pain, achieved higher scores. Alcohol and drug use by patients were the most selected barrier to pain care while the availability of higher qualified practitioners was the most selected enabler. When asked to record pain scores, practitioners were less inclined to assign scores which were self-reported by the patients in the case scenarios. The participant dropout rate was 35%. Conclusion: Our results suggest that there is suboptimal knowledge and attitudes regarding pain among emergency care providers in the Western Cape, South Africa. Further, gaps in pain knowledge, attitudes and practices were identified. Some barriers and enablers of pain care in the South African prehospital setting were identified but further research is indicated.

Occurrence of Canker and Wood Rot Pathogens on Stone Fruit Propagation Material and Nursery Trees in the Western Cape of South Africa

Plant Disease ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rhona van der Merwe ◽  
Francois Halleen ◽  
Meagan Van Dyk ◽  
Vernon Guy Jacobs ◽  
Lizel Mostert
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Fruit Trees ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Stone Fruit ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Latent Infections ◽  
Nursery Trees ◽  
Propagation Material

Dieback and canker of young stone fruit trees can cause suboptimal growth and even death under severe conditions. One source of inoculum of canker pathogens could be through nursery trees harboring latent infections that would not be visible to inspections done according to the deciduous fruit scheme. The objectives of this study were to identify the canker and wood rot fungal pathogens present in nursery stone fruit trees as well as propagation material and to evaluate their pathogenicity. Isolations were made from scion and rootstock propagation material and from certified nursery stone fruit trees. The plant material sampled did not have any external symptoms. The certified nursery trees when cross-sectioned displayed brown discoloration from the pruning wound, bud union and often from the crown. Fungal species isolated were identified by sequencing of the relevant barcoding genes and phylogenetic analyses thereof. Canker and wood rot associated fungi were identified. Buds used for budding had low levels of infection, with 1.2% of dormant buds infected and 0.4% of green buds infected. The dormant rootstock shoots had canker pathogen incidence of 6.2% before it was planted in the nursery fields and increased as the ungrafted, rooted rootstock plants had 11.1% infection with canker and wood rot pathogens. Out of 1080 nursery trees, the canker and wood rot associated fungi infected 21.8% of trees. The canker causing pathogens that were isolated the most were Cadophora luteo-olivacea and Diplodia seriata. A low incidence of wood rot fungi was found with only 1.5% of nursery trees infected. In total 26 new reports of fungal species on stone fruit in South Africa were made. Of these, 22 have not been found on stone fruit world-wide. The pathogenicity trials’ results confirmed the pathogenic status of these newly reported species. All of the isolates tested formed lesions significantly longer than the control, 4 months after wound inoculation of 2-year-old shoots of two plum orchards. Lasiodiplodia theobromae was the most virulent species on both plum cultivars. The results of this research showed that nursery stone fruit trees and propagation material can harbor latent infections. Different management practices need to be evaluated to prevent these infections to ensure healthier stone fruit nursery trees.

scholarly journals Preharvest Detection and Postharvest Incidence of Phlyctema vagabunda on ‘Cripps Pink’ Apples in South Africa

Plant Disease ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 104 (3) ◽  
pp. 841-846 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alana Den Breeyen ◽  
Jessica Rochefort ◽  
Andre Russouw ◽  
Julia Meitz-Hopkins ◽  
Cheryl L. Lennox
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Molecular Detection ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
Postharvest Disease ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Pome Fruit ◽  
Current Management ◽  
Detection Tool ◽  
Fruit Growing

Phlyctema vagabunda is responsible for significant postharvest losses in ‘Cripps Pink’ apples in South Africa. The first objective of this study was to determine the presence and incidence of P. vagabunda on stored commercial ‘Cripps Pink’ apple in five major pome fruit growing regions in the Western Cape. As the fungus remains latent until postharvest, the second objective was to develop a rapid molecular detection tool to determine the presence of P. vagabunda on asymptomatic ‘Cripps Pink’ apples from two commercial orchards. Postharvest disease incidence in ‘Cripps Pink’ apples in the Western Cape ranged from 0 to 73% in the 2010/2011, 0 to 6% in 2011/2012, and 0 to 30% in 2012/2013 seasons. P. vagabunda spores were also detected on ‘Cripps Pink’ fruit from December to February and from March to April. In December and January, P. vagabunda spores were detected on the ‘Hillieri’ crab apple pollinator. The knowledge that P. vagabunda conidia are present on the surface of ‘Cripps Pink’ apples and ‘Hillieri’ crab apples during the growing season could be applied to improving current management practices in the orchards.

scholarly journals Canker and Wood Rot Pathogens Present in Young Apple Trees and Propagation Material in the Western Cape of South Africa

Plant Disease ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 103 (12) ◽  
pp. 3129-3141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minette Havenga ◽  
Greg M. Gatsi ◽  
Francois Halleen ◽  
Christoffel F. J. Spies ◽  
Rhona van der Merwe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Vascular Tissue ◽  
Schizophyllum Commune ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Apple Trees ◽  
Nursery Trees ◽  
Propagation Material ◽  
Young Apple

Canker and wood rot pathogens cause dieback and, in severe cases, the death of young apple trees. Recently, a higher occurrence of cankers was observed on 1-year-old apple trees in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. This study aimed to assess the phytosanitary status of nursery trees and propagation material as possible inoculum sources for canker pathogens. Thirteen 1-year-old apple orchards showing canker or dieback symptoms were sampled. Certified nursery apple trees were collected from four nurseries as well as scion and rootstock mother plant material. Isolations were made from the discoloration observed in the vascular tissue of the plant parts and from asymptomatic material. Possible canker and wood rot species were identified with PCR and sequence comparisons of the relevant gene regions and phylogenetic analyses. Similar canker and wood rot species were isolated from 1-year-old diseased apple trees, nursery apple trees, and the propagation material. Forty-five fungal species associated with canker or wood rot symptoms were identified. The top five most abundant fungal species found causing disease on commercial 1-year-old trees were also found in high numbers causing latent infection in certified apple nursery trees. These species were Didymosphaeria rubi-ulmifolii sensu lato, Diplodia seriata, Schizophyllum commune, Didymella pomorum, and Coniochaeta fasciculata, with D. rubi-ulmifolii sensu lato being the dominant species in both sampling materials. In all, 65% of certified nursery apple trees, 5% of scion shoots used for budding, and 21% of rooted rootstock cuttings from layer blocks had latent infections of canker and wood rot pathogens. Pathogenicity trials were conducted with isolates of 39 species, inoculated onto 2-year-old branches of 14-year-old Golden Delicious trees. All species caused lesions that were significantly longer than the control. This study confirmed the presence of canker and wood rot pathogens in apple propagation material as well as certified nursery apple trees, which will aid the improvement of management practices in nurseries.

scholarly journals Honeybush (Cyclopia spp.) phenology and associated arthropod diversity in the Overberg region, South Africa

Bothalia ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleonore L. Slabbert ◽  
Rhoda R. Malgas ◽  
Ruan Veldtman ◽  
Pia Addison
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Cape Floristic Region ◽  
Arthropod Community ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Baseline Knowledge ◽  
Medicinal Properties ◽  
High Level ◽  
Production Areas ◽  
Suction Sampling

Background: Cyclopia is endemic to regions of the Cape Floristic Region across the Eastern and Western Cape provinces of South Africa and is commonly known as honeybush. Honeybush has historically been used as an herbal tea, and has proven medicinal properties. Honeybush biomass and extracts are used in the functional foods and cosmetics sectors, both locally and overseas. The growing demand for honeybush calls for increased agricultural production and a shift away from the predominantly wild harvested supply.Objectives: The current study aimed to address the lack of baseline knowledge on honeybush phenology and its associated arthropod community to advance sustainable production of commercially valued plants in the genus.Method: The study was conducted on wild and cultivated Cyclopia species (Cyclopia maculata and Cyclopia genistoides) at respective sites in the Overberg region. Sampling took place from April 2014 to April 2015 using qualitative methods for recording seasonal honeybush phenology and suction sampling for aboveground arthropods. Focal insect taxa (Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Thysanoptera, Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera) were sorted and identified to family level and classified into functional feeding guilds.Results: Qualitative phenology observations of wild C. maculata and cultivated C. genistoides indicated a high level of congruency in seasonality of phenophase stages. Associated arthropod assemblages contained a diversity of families per functional feeding group, namely phytophagous, zoophagous and omnivorous taxa, with high seasonal variability.Conclusion: Findings highlight the complexity of ecological elements to be taken into consideration for ecologically sound honeybush cultivation. Outcomes can be applied to land management practices and governance policies promoting sustainable agroecosystems in honeybush production areas.

scholarly journals Acute pain assessment and management in the prehospital setting, in the Western Cape, South Africa: A Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Survey

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrit Lourens ◽  
Peter Hodkinson ◽  
Romy Parker
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Emergency Care ◽  
Pain Assessment ◽  
Prehospital Setting ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Attitudes And Practices ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Pain Care ◽  
Knowledge Attitudes And Practices

Abstract Background: Acute pain is frequently encountered in the prehospital setting, and therefore, a fundamental aspect of quality emergency care. Research has shown a positive association between health care providers’ knowledge of, and attitudes towards pain and pain management practices. This study aimed to describe the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of emergency care providers regarding acute pain assessment and management in the prehospital setting, in the Western Cape, South Africa. The specific objectives were to, identify gaps in pain knowledge; assess attitudes regarding pain assessment and management; describe pain assessment and management behaviours and practices; and identify barriers to and enablers of pain care. Methods: A web-based descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among emergency care providers of all qualifications, using a face-validated Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Pain survey. Results: Responses of 100 participants was included in the analysis. The survey response rate could not be calculated. The mean age of respondents was 34.74 (SD8.13) years and the mean years’ experience 10.02 (SD6.47). Most respondents were male (69%), employed in the public/government sector (93%) as operational practitioners (85%) with 54% of respondents having attended medical education on pain care in the last two years. The mean percentage for knowledge and attitudes regarding pain among emergency care providers was 58.01% (SD15.66) with gaps identified in various aspects of pain and pain care. Practitioners with higher qualifications, more years’ experience and those who did not attend medical education on pain, achieved higher scores. Alcohol and drug use by patients were the most selected barrier to pain care while the availability of higher qualified practitioners was the most selected enabler. When asked to record pain scores, practitioners were less inclined to assign scores which were self-reported by the patients in the case scenarios. The participant dropout rate was 35%. Conclusion: Our results suggest that there is suboptimal knowledge and attitudes regarding pain among emergency care providers in the Western Cape, South Africa. Further, gaps in pain knowledge, attitudes and practices were identified. Some barriers and enablers of pain care in the South African prehospital setting were identified but further research is indicated.

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