biostudies-literatureMadhi SABill &amp; Melinda Gates FoundationS342-S350https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6785671biostudies-literatureUnknown69(Suppl 4)<h4>Background</h4>Despite approximately 2.6 million stillbirths occurring annually, there is a paucity of systematic biological investigation and consequently knowledge on the causes of these deaths in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We investigated the utility of minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS), placental examination, and clinical history, in attributing the causes of stillbirth in a South African LMIC setting.<h4>Methods</h4>This prospective, observational pilot study undertook sampling of brain, lung, and liver tissue using core biopsy needles, blood and cerebrospinal fluid collection, and placental examination. Testing included microbial culture and/or molecular testing and tissue histological examination. The cause of death was determined for each case by an interClinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of AmericaAn Observational Pilot Study Evaluating the Utility of Minimally Invasive Tissue Sampling to Determine the Cause of Stillbirths in South African Women.PMC6785671OPP1101764Martines RBMathunjwa ASolomon FNzenze SBassat QCutland CBaillie VRitter JMWadula JZaki SRAdam YChawana RRaghunathan PLOrdi JMadhi SAIzu ABlau DMPathirana JBreiman RFHale MJohnstone SfalseAn Observational Pilot Study Evaluating the Utility of Minimally Invasive Tissue Sampling to Determine the Cause of Stillbirths in South African Women.<h4>Background</h4>Despite approximately 2.6 million stillbirths occurring annually, there is a paucity of systematic biological investigation and consequently knowledge on the causes of these deaths in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We investigated the utility of minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS), placental examination, and clinical history, in attributing the causes of stillbirth in a South African LMIC setting.<h4>Methods</h4>This prospective, observational pilot study undertook sampling of brain, lung, and liver tissue using core biopsy needles, blood and cerebrospinal fluid collection, and placental examination. Testing included microbial culture and/or molecular testing and tissue histological examination. The cause of death was determined for each case by an inter2019-01-01T00:00:00Z2019 Oct2026-04-14T09:21:50.787Z2019-10-19T07:20:31ZS-EPMC67856713159865610.1093/cid/ciz573