In his PhD study titled: ‘Detecting mycobacterium TB in stem cells in latent infection,’ Dr. Mayito is proposing to develop a new innovative diagnostic test for TB infection.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines Latent TB infection as a state in which individuals harbor TB-causing bacteria without evidence of manifestation of symptoms of active disease. WHO estimates that 1.7 billion people worldwide have the latent infection and up to 15% of these will progress to active TB in a lifetime. The current prevalence for latent TB in Uganda is estimated to be at 65% of the population and it remains one of the major contributors to cases of active TB.
Despite the high risk that the infection pauses to the Ugandan population, it remains difficult to diagnose because existing tests such as the Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) and Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) have low specificity and prediction of who will progress to active TB.