BIOSKETCH
Dr Prathna Bhola is a Medical Microbiologist at the academic complex in KwaZulu-Natal, where she manages microbiology laboratories within the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) and works closely with clinicians to support patient care, antimicrobial stewardship, infection prevention and control, surveillance, and antibiotic policy development.
She is actively involved in teaching and assessing undergraduate MBChB and Bachelor of Medical Science students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), while also playing a key role in registrar training. Dr Bhola serves as a member and examiner for the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA).
Although her PhD focused on the immune response to cryptococcal meningitis in people living with HIV, her current research centres on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and surveillance. She collaborates with colleagues to monitor resistance trends, strengthen laboratory diagnostics, and generate evidence that informs clinical decision-making and improves patient care. She also supervises Master’s and PhD students conducting research in AMR and related fields.
