Dr. Teena Thomas

Teena Thomas is a South African clinical microbiologist and infectious diseases researcher whose work centers on laboratory diagnostics, antimicrobial resistance, and HIV-associated opportunistic infections. Affiliated with major tertiary and public health institutions in South Africa, her research supports national surveillance and informs clinical guidelines, particularly in high-burden settings.

Her publications highlight expertise in cryptococcal meningitis, candidemia, and the impact of cryptococcal antigen screening and flucytosine-based regimens on patient outcomes. She has contributed to influential studies in leading infectious diseases journals, demonstrating how timely diagnostics and access programmes improve survival among people living with HIV.

Additional work focuses on multidrug-resistant organisms such as Acinetobacter baumannii and carbapenemase-producing pathogens, evaluating molecular characterization, susceptibility testing methods, and infection prevention technologies. Collectively, her scholarship advances diagnostic accuracy, antimicrobial stewardship, and evidence-based infection control in resource-limited healthcare systems.