Bonita van der Westhuizen (Maritz)

Adaptable Pathologist with extensive experience providing reliable results. Meets job demands and deadlines through diligent work-ethic and dedication to quality.

Prof S Potgieter 0825672558 samantha.potgieter@gmail.com

Dr P Eckermans 0825728316 ekermansp@ampath.co.za 

Dr Maloba 0714109033 motlatji.maloba@nhls.ac.za 

Dr J Wadula 0828035699 wadulaj@ufs.ac.za 

• Afrikaans: Read, write, speak
• English: Read, write, speak

• ID: 8508090034087

• AMPATH Immunology peer group (previous)
• AMPATH Microbiology peer group (previous)
• AMPATH MEDITECH review group (previous)
• AMPATH IT Application development working group (previous)
• UFS MMed & MPhil committee (current)
• FS Provincial Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee (current)
• Universitas Institutional Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee (current)
• Universitas Institutional Infection Provincial and Control Committee (current)
• TB-Wider group (current)
• SACOMD/CMSA WBA steering committee (current)
• Development of EPA subcommittee (current)
• MEC sub-committee: Development of SA VITEK card (current)
• Faculty Teaching and Learning Management Group (FTLMG) (current)
• UFS Faculty Marketing Committee (current)
• UFS Faculty Forum Organizing Committee (current: Internal Chair)
• Departmental Finance Committee (current)
• Departmental Internal Post-Graduate Committee (Current)
• Departmental Research Committee (Current)
• Departmental Internal Research Evaluation Committee (Current)

• Critical care society (current)
• FIDSSA (current)
• SASCM (current)
• ESCMID (current)

• AMPATH CPD Bethlehem: MDR Landscape (2019)
• AMPATH CPD Emoya: MDR Landscape (2019)
• AMS Rosepark: The use of biomarkers for infections in the COVID era (2021)
• AFS MediClinic: Treatment of invasive Candida infections (2022)
• DOH Antimicrobial awareness week: One Health (2022)
• Life Cosmos AMS: One Health (2022)
• AMPATH CPD: Rabies (2023)
• Sandoz Arandi launch: Candida auris in the ICU (2023)
• CPD Busamed-Pharmadynamics: Antibiotics in ICU (2023)
• FS Critical care society: Antifungal therapy (2024)
• FS Critical care society: Fungal infections (2025)

• BLS (Basic Life Support) 2011
• ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) 2011
• PALS (Paediatric Advanced Life Support) 2012
• AMLS (Advanced Medical Life Support) 2012
• IELTS (International English Language Testing System) 2012
• PLAB 1 – 31 NOVEMBER 2012 (GMC Examination and registration)
• PLAB 2 – 31 JANUARY 2013 (GMC Examination and registration)
• Immunology course UFS 2015
• Molecular Biology course UFS 2015
• Distance HIV/AIDS Management for Healthcare Professionals 2016
• Clinical immunology course – University Of Stellenbosch 2017
• FPD Short course in the management of the COVID patient 2021
• PENTATRAINING: Fungal infections in children 2022
• DTM&H (Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Health) University of Sheffield, UK 2024
• NIOH: Biostatistics intermediate training course (2024)
• CMSA examiners course (2024)
• CMSA SWAT training 2026 (ongoing)

• Extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) at Universitas National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) - Successfully completed 73%.

Investigator: Dr Silwana   (Microbiology)

Supervisor: Dr Maloba

Co-supervisors: Dr vd Westhuizen, Me vd Spoel v Dijk

• Identification of bacterial pathogens in culture negative CSF samples from the Free State Hospital Complex using Multiplex PCR - Submitted for marking

Investigator: Dr Wahl   (Microbiology)

Supervisor: Dr vd Westhuizen

Co-supervisor: Dr Musoke, Dr   Potgieter

• Clinical profile of Carbapenem resistant Enterobacterales bacteraemia in adults at Universitas Academic Hospital over a five-year period: A descriptive study - Successfully completed with distinction 89% (Published)

Investigator: Dr Marais   (Internal medicine registrar)

Supervisor: Dr Potgieter

Co-supervisors: Dr vd Westhuizen,  Dr Musoke

• Knowledge and practices regarding blood culture collection amongst interns at the Universitas Hospital, Free State. - Successfully completed 64%.

Investigators: Undergraduate Medical students MSSM Group 9

Supervisor: Dr vd Westhuizen

Co-supervisor: Dr Chu

• To flush or not to flush: The incidence of micro-organism contamination of 0,9% saline flush bags in operating theaters at Universitas Academic Hospital, Bloemfontein. - Submitted for marking

Investigator: Dr E Top (Anaesthesiology registrar)

Supervisor: Dr M Booyens

Co-supervisor: Dr B vd Westhuizen

• TB or not TB: A review of Mycobacterial infections diagnosed on histopathological specimens in the Free State, South Africa. - Ongoing.

Investigator: Dr JH Fouche (Anatomical Pathology registrar)

Supervisor: Dr L Budding

Co-supervisor: Dr B vd Westhuizen

• Microbial profile, antimicrobial susceptibility, and factors associated with a positive culture in patients with endophthalmitis at Universitas Academic Hospital: a retrospective study. - Ongoing

Investigator: Dr A van Dyk (Ophthalmology registrar)

Supervisor: Prof WJM Marais

Co-supervisor: Dr B van der Westhuizen, Prof S Potgieter

• A Retrospective Evaluation of Three Specimen Collection Methods for the Microbiological Diagnosis of Cerebral Abscesses and Empyema.- Ongoing

Investigator: Dr A Dzebu

Supervisor: Dr B van der Westhuizen

Co-supervisor: Dr NL Silwana

• Microbiology and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns in urology patients with foreign objects in their genitourinary system: A retrospective study from Universitas Academic Hospital.- Ongoing

Investigator: Dr JAM Wessels (Urology registrar)

Supervisor: Prof FM Claassen

Co-supervisor: Dr B van der Westhuizen, Prof S Potgieter

Publication 2024: SAJID

• Van der Westhuizen B, Potgieter S. Data analysis of patients with positive mold
  or dimorphic fungal cultures from sterile sites. S Afr J Infect Dis. 2024;39(1), a630. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajid.v39i1.630

UFS Faculty Forum 2024: Oral presentation. 

• Data analysis of patients with positive mold or dimorphic fungal cultures from sterile sites. (Main author)

UFS Faculty Forum 2024: Poster presentations

• A case series: The distribution, patient characteristics, therapy, and patient outcome in culture-positive invasive Mold infections in HIV positive patients in a tertiary hospital in the Free State province, South Africa. (Main author)
• A case series: The distribution, patient characteristics, therapy, and patient outcome in culture-positive invasive Mold infections in patients with hematological conditions in a tertiary hospital in the Free State province, South Africa. (Main author)

DOH FS National Research Day 2024: Oral presentation

• Title: Tracking Group B Streptococcus: Five years of invasive disease surveillance in the Free State, South Africa. Authors: Khasiane Mawasha, Kate Jensen, Susan Meiring, and Vanessa Quan for GERMS-SA (Role: Co-author)

ESCMID Global (International) Congress 2025: Poster presentations

• A case series: The distribution, patient characteristics, therapy, and patient outcome in culture-positive invasive Mold infections in patients with hematological conditions in a tertiary hospital in the Free State province, South Africa. (Main author)
• A case series: The distribution, patient characteristics, therapy, and patient outcome in culture-positive invasive Mold infections in HIV positive patients in a tertiary hospital in the Free State province, South Africa. (Main author)

Publication 2025: African Journal of Thoracic and Critical Care Medicine

Editorial

• Molecular techniques vs conventional culture: Should there really be a debate?
• Afr J Thoracic Crit Care Med 2025;31(2):e3653. https://doi.org/10.7196/AJTCCM.2025.v31i2.3653

Publication 2025: South African Journal of Oncology

• Van der Westhuizen B, Kennedy S, Budding L, Potgieter S. Culture-positive mold infections in patients with haemato-oncological diseases. S. Afr. j. oncol. 2025; 9(0), a322. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajo.v9i0.322

Publication 2025: Case reports in Pathology

• Saksenaea oblingispora Rhinosinusitis in advanced HIV infection: A Rare and Lethal Mucormycosis. Bonita van der Westhuizen et al. Case Reports in Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.https://doi.org/10.1155/crip/3227863

UFS Faculty Forum 2025: Poster presentation

• Saksenaea oblingispora Rhinosinusitis in advanced HIV infection: A Rare and Lethal Mucormycosis.

PathRed National Congress 2025: Poster presentation

• Saksenaea oblingispora Rhinosinusitis in advanced HIV infection: A Rare and Lethal Mucormycosis.

Publication 2026: SAJID

• Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteralis bacteremia at a tertiary hospital: A five year review

Awards

UFS Faculty Forum 2024

• Runner-up: Best Senior Laboratory Paper (Oral Presentation)
• Winner: Best Senior Laboratory Poster

UFS Faculty Forum 2025

• Winner: Best Senior Laboratory Poster

Congress attendance

• National IDEAL Summit (Pfizer) 2019 - On-site attendance
• ESCMID Global International Congress 2021 - Online attendance
• National Shape Congress (Pfizer) 2023 - Onsite Attendance
• ASLM International Congress 2023 (Appointed as rapporteur) - On-site attendance
• ESCMID Global International Congress 2025 - On-site attendance
• PathRed National Congress 2025 - On-site attendance

UFS Faculty Forum

• UFS Faculty Forum Committee 2025
• UFS Faculty Forum Committee 2026 - Chair: Laboratory stream

NICD COLLABORATION

• Enhanced Surveillance for Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacterales

Principle investigators: Olga Perovic, Global Health Security (GHS) AMR project lead,Natalie Mayet GHS, Caroline Maluleka
Antimicrobial Resistance Laboratory and Culture Collection
Centre for Healthcare-Associated Infections, Antimicrobial Resistance and Mycoses (CHARM)

Role: Co-investigator

• Surveillance of Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae in Free State Province in South Africa, 1 January 2025 – 30 June 2025

Investigators: Hlambani Shirinda, Caroline Maluleka, Vindana Chibabhai (NICD - CHARM, GERMS)

Role: Co-investigator

NICD & INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION: NICD, Emory University (United States), Columbia University

• B-Pepared study

Bedaquiline, Pretomanid, and linezolid Resistance Emergence in Drug resistant TB treatment in South Africa

Role: Co-investigator

RESEARCH – REVIEW ACTIVITIES

• SAMJ Reviewer
• African Journal of Thoracic and Critical Care Medicine Reviewer
• World Journal of Gastroenterology reviewer
• SAJID reviewer

GRANT APPLICATIONS

• NRF Thuthuka Grant application - Awaiting outcome
• NHLS AARMS Research Development Grant - Awaiting outcome

Undergraduate teaching

• MBChB students: MINF2614 Module leader
• MBChB students: Lecturer for modules MGAS, MNER, MURI
• Physiotherapy students: Lectures
• Optometry students: Lectures
• Involved in setting question papers, marking and moderation of papers.

Postgraduate teaching

• Medical Microbiology registrars: Structuring and following the program including bench training, tutorials, seminars, journal clubs.
• MSc (HONS): Lectures, tutorials, journal clubs
• Involved in setting question papers, marking and moderation of papers and registrar continuous assessments.

External moderator

• UP Physiotherapy Microbiology module: GMB252 PHYSIO II

CMSA examiner participation

• Observer in first semester Part II exam 2025
• Examiner in second semester Part I exam 2025

Research Examination

• MMKP6804: 2026 Honours students "Proposal Oral Presentations examiner"

Evaluation Committees

• MMed Sc Medical Microbiology for candidate RB Seeco.

Acting Head of Department: Medical Microbiology from 1 December 2023 – Current (ends 31/01/2015)

During this term I was/am responsible for:

• Active leadership within the NHLS/ University/Professional bodies promoting discipline and/or organizational strategic objectives.
• Improvement responsiveness of NHLS to healthcare needs in the community/society.
• Administrative duties of an HOD
• Personnel management including short-listing, interviewing, and appointing new staff
• Staff performance management reviews
• Running registrar training program and fulfilment of milestones
• HPCSA accreditation of the UFS Postgraduate School
• HPCSA accreditation of UFS Science Program
• Participation in the Microbiology Expert Committee: Involved in national teaching activities (ECHO sessions); Involved in curriculum revision; Involved in validation/implementation of new diagnostic testing platforms [Pneumocystis fungiplex, Bordatella pertussis PCR, Chromogenic media (Granada agar, S.aureus, Campylobacterspecies)]
• SANAS Accreditation of the laboratory
• Managing operations through crisis time – 2024 NHLS Cyber attack

• 24 Hour on call consultative service for the Free State and North-West provinces
• Laboratory support for BDH, Welkom, Kroonstad, Bethlehem and Taung NHLS Laboratories
• Assisting Pelonomi laboratory – Verification of MALDI-TOF, Blood culture instrument and Urinalysis instrument thus supporting with quality management and retaining SANAS accreditation.
• Assisting Pelonomi laboratory with revision of SOP’s for SANAS accreditation.
• Pelonomi laboratory visits
• Pelonomi ICU Ward rounds

• Enrolled as a PhD student in the Department of Medical Microbiology in the School of Pathology (Year 2)

• Provincial DoH IPC Standard Operating Procedure 2025: Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection diagnosis, management and Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) procedures
• Provincial DoH IPC Standard Operating Procedure 2025: SCABIES (parasitic infestation caused by Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis - Itch mite) Symptoms, Prevention, Transmission, Diagnosis, Treatment