222: Parasites, Pediatrics, and the Lab: A Study from Guinea, West Africa

2026-02-13

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In this episode of Let's Talk Micro, Luis is joined by Dr. Joel Mortensen to discuss a study examining intestinal parasites in pediatric patients in Guinea, West Africa. They dive into the real-world challenges of diagnosing parasitic infections in resource-limited settings, including reliance on stool microscopy, the use of rapid antigen tests, and how seasonal changes influence infection rates. Dr. Mortensen walks us through the study design, key findings, and what the data revealed about protozoal infections, as well as the role of microscopy in identifying helminths in this setting. This conversation highlights the critical role of clinical microbiology in global health, the importance of...

In this episode of Let's Talk Micro, Luis is joined by Dr. Joel Mortensen to discuss a study examining intestinal parasites in pediatric patients in Guinea, West Africa.

They dive into the real-world challenges of diagnosing parasitic infections in resource-limited settings, including reliance on stool microscopy, the use of rapid antigen tests, and how seasonal changes influence infection rates. Dr. Mortensen walks us through the study design, key findings, and what the data revealed about protozoal infections, as well as the role of microscopy in identifying helminths in this setting.

This conversation highlights the critical role of clinical microbiology in global health, the importance of diagnostic context, and how laboratory data can directly inform patient care and public health strategies in underserved regions.

Check out Dr. Joel Mortensen's previous episodes

If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to check out previous episodes featuring Dr. Mortensen, where we dive deeper into his work in Guinea, laboratory capacity building, and global health challenges in resource-limited settings:

🎙️ Episode 107: A Pediatric Hospital in Guinea – Pt. 1
https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/35868465
🎙️ Episode 108: A Pediatric Hospital in Guinea – Pt. 2
https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/35868460

These episodes provide important background on the hospital, training efforts, and the broader impact of this work.

🔗 Other Links

Learn more about Sacre Coeur Hospital and the pediatric care and laboratory work being done in Guinea:
👉 https://www.hopeignited.org/sacre-coeur

📩 Want to get involved or learn more?

If you're interested in learning more about this work, collaborating, or supporting efforts in Guinea, you can reach out directly to Dr. Joel Mortensen:

📧 joelmortensen@gmail.com

You can also contact me at letstalkmicro@gmail.com, and I'm happy to help connect you.

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