The Minimally Invasive Tissue Sampling (MITS) procedure was developed as an approach to reduce uncertainty surrounding cause of death determination in high mortality settings, where clinical and postmortem diagnoses are nearly always unavailable. The procedure uses biopsy needles to obtain post-mortem samples of lung, brain and liver for histopathology, microbiologic, and molecular examination for cause-of-death determination.
This 3-year project commenced in March 2023 at Iganga main hospital and the HDSS community, with the aim of tracking the causes of under-5 mortality and stillbirths in about 300 cases through epidemiologic surveillance of under-5 deaths and stillbirths utilizing MITS, laboratory diagnostics including conventional and advanced histopathology and molecular screening of various pathogens, verbal autopsy, and available clinical and demographic data. The study operates in Iganga general hospital and the IMHDSS catchment area.
MITS samples are collected and initial microbiology tests performed in Iganga before they are transported to Mulago national hospital laboratory in Kampala for comprehensive histopathology and other microbiology tests. A select team of professionals meets on a quarterly basis to analyse clinical history, verbal autopsy and laboratory findings results and to assign the most probable cause of death. Read more
PI is Dr. Dan Kajungu, Co-PIs – Dr Robert Lukande, Prof Grace Ndeezi, Mr Jackson Were. And Funded by Research Triangle International & BMGF
