The GERMS-SA surveillance platform, co-ordinated by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), remains a critical part of tracking and monitoring infectious diseases across South Africa. In 2023, GERMS-SA continued its mission to provide pathogen-specific data on a range of diseases and support public health decision making through reliable laboratory based surveillance. The annual review reflects the activities undertaken during this period, highlighting the achievements, data outcomes, and collaborations that have been central to these efforts.

Despite these successes, the year also brought several challenges, including data inconsistencies, laboratory delays, and operating at reduced capacity due to unfilled positions resulting from cost-containment policies. The number and viability of isolates received by NICD reference laboratories continued to be negatively affected, resulting in the inability to perform antimicrobial susceptibility testing and serotyping/ serogrouping on the missing isolates. While case patient notification reports from the Surveillance Data Warehouse (SDW) and Notifiable Medical Conditions (NMC) helped address some of these challenges, there is still a need for improved co ordination and communication between GERMS-SA and participating laboratories.

Looking ahead, GERMS-SA is committed to refining its processes, optimising its collaborations, and improving data quality and timeliness. We urge all microbiology laboratories, in their challenged capacities, to continue to participate in laboratory surveillance so monitoring can continue and strengthen the network’s capacity to respond to emerging public health threats.

We thank you for your ongoing service to the health of all South Africans.