Welcome to the Gauteng Infection Control Society

What we do

The GICS (Gauteng Infection Control Society) is a chapter of FIDSSA (Federation of Infectious Diseases Societies of Southern Africa).

We are committed to a unified approach to the prevention and control of infections associated with a visit to a healthcare facility and to create a safer environment for both patients and staff.

Our vision is to empower our members with sound and evidence based knowledge to establish healthcare facilities without infections.

Here are some recent communications from the NICD

The Study Day held on the 25th of March 2026 at Mark's Park was a day filled with information and interesting presentations

The topic of this Study Day was “Precision Cleaning, Proven Protection”

To view the agenda and presentations for download visit the study day page in the menu under Study Days or just click here.

The Comittee

Mishaan Daniel – Treasurer

Shirley Mobai - GICS trade liaison officer

Shirley Mobai – Trade Liaison Officer

Hanlie Bronkhorst - GICS Trade liaison officer

Hanlie Bronkhorst – Trade Liason Officer

Madelein Myburgh – Deputy Chair

Janelle Mckenna - GICS Member liaison officer

Janelle Mckenna – Member Liaison Officer

Rene de Beer – Secretary

Click on this image to go to the latest CDC Guidelines

Infection Prevention and Control News

To find out more about any of the articles below (which are all related to Infection Prevention and Control you can click on the highlighted links OR just click on the heading or image which will take you directly to the original article / webpage with more useful information. These are just the teasers!

WHO declares Ebola outbreak in DR Congo an international emergency

The current strain of Ebola is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, the health agency said, for which there are no approved drugs or vaccines.

Early symptoms include fever, muscle pain, fatigue, headache and sore throat, and are followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, a rash and bleeding.

What is Ebola and how does it spread?

What is causing this outbreak? Ebola is a disease caused by a virus – it is rare, but severe and often deadly. There are three species of Ebola virus that cause outbreaks, and this one is known as Bundibugyo
How is Ebola transmitted? It spreads between people through infected bodily fluids, such as blood and vomit
How deadly is it? Around 30% of people have died in previous outbreaks of Bundibugyo Ebola virus
What is the incubation time? Symptoms appear between two and 21 days after being infected
What are the symptoms? The initial symptoms appear suddenly and are flu-like, such as a fever, headache and tiredness. As the disease progresses, vomiting and diarrhoea develop and the body's organs do not work as well. Some patients may develop internal and external bleeding
Where does Ebola come from? Outbreaks start when somebody catches Ebola from infected animals, such as fruit bats
Is there a vaccine? There are vaccines for the Zaire species of Ebola, but not for Bundibugyo

For more information on the Ebola outbreak as it unfolds - visit this Ebola resource centre

Breaking the Chain: Strengthening Infection Prevention for a Healthier Tomorrow

When a patient walks into a hospital ward, the invisible risk is not always the illness they bring with them. It can be the infections they might acquire within the hospital or carry home afterwards. From a newborn struggling with sepsis to a nurse exposed while caring for a coughing patient, every encounter in healthcare carries both compassion and vulnerability. Most infections that arise in hospitals or communities are preventable through simple, consistent actions.

Why Infection Prevention Matters

Infection prevention is one of the most straightforward yet most powerful public health measures we have. Clean hands, safe waste disposal, and vaccination can save millions of lives each year. Yet, in many parts of the world, preventable infections remain a leading cause of illness and death. According to the

.When prevention fails, the consequences are far-reaching. Hospital stays lengthen, costs rise, and avoidable suffering grows. Healthcare workers face daily risks, often without adequate protection or resources. Weak IPC systems also fuel the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), as antibiotics are used more often to compensate for gaps in prevention. Resistant infections make treatment more difficult, drive up costs, and threaten progress across all fields of medicine. The WHO warns that if no action is taken, AMR could claim up to ten million lives every year by 2050.

Strengthening infection prevention reduces the need for antibiotics, slows resistance, and preserves effective treatments for the future. But it requires more than facilities and equipment. It demands investment in people; those who deliver care, those who manage systems, and those who make decisions about health priorities. It calls for communities to understand that prevention is not the task of hospitals alone but part of daily life, in homes, schools, and workplaces.

The role of oral care in reducing hospital-acquired infections and improving the health of critically ill patients: A narrative review

Oral hygiene plays a vital role in maintaining the overall health of hospitalized patients, particularly those in intensive care units (ICUs). Neglecting oral care can lead to serious complications such as ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), systemic infections, and prolonged hospital stays. Due to their critical condition and ventilator dependency, ICU patients are often unable to perform oral hygiene themselves, placing the responsibility on nursing staff. However, evidence indicates that oral care is not consistently or systematically administered in hospital settings. Contributing factors include a lack of training, the absence of standardized protocols, insufficient equipment, and a lack of a supportive organizational culture. Findings revealed that combining tooth brushing with chlorhexidine application significantly reduces the incidence of VAP, lowers mortality rates, and shortens ICU length of stay. Additionally, a considerable gap in nurses’ knowledge and practice regarding oral care was identified, directly impacting the quality of care. Continuous education and protocol standardization were highlighted as key solutions to address these challenges. The reviewed studies demonstrated a diversity of oral care methods, with herbal mouthwashes, such as those containing clove, and aerosolized antibiotics being introduced as promising innovative interventions. Nonetheless, some studies reported conflicting results regarding the effectiveness of tooth brushing alone, underscoring the need for further research. Ultimately, this review emphasizes the importance of thorough oral care, nurse training, adherence to standardized protocols, and the integration of innovative interventions to enhance care quality and reduce complications and healthcare costs related to hospital-acquired infections. Ensuring access to necessary resources and fostering a supportive organizational culture are crucial factors in implementing these practices effectively.

If you are interested in the dental hygiene of especially ICU and specifically those on a ventilator please visit the CDC Oral health toolkit website.

Here are additional links with more specific toolkits:

1. Beck's Oral Assessment tool

2. The Oral health Assessment

3. Best Practice Toolkit for Nursing Staff Caring for Ventilated Patients

4. Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia Prevention by Engaging Nurses