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Dr. Thelma E. Tupasi is recognized for her significant contributions to knowledge, treatment and prevention of various infectious diseases in the country including streptococcal surveillance and epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of gonorrhoea, diagnostics and therapeutics of typhoid fever, acute respiratory infections, hospital-acquired infections, tuberculosis especially the multi-drug resistant type, and hepatitis B. Her series of studies on acute respiratory infections (ACI) showed that the risk factors for ACI were low socioeconomic status and age less than one year and that the most frequently isolated bacterial pathogens were Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Staphylococcus aureus while respiratory synctial virus was the predominant viral pathogen. Dr. Tupasi and co-workers found that treatment of patients with multiple-drug resistant tuberculosis using the DOTS-Plus strategy is feasible, comparatively effective and cost-effective for low- and middle-income countries.

 

Birthdate: 13 September 1940

Died: June 12, 2019