Evaluation of Effectiveness of Following Standard Operating Procedures in the Department of Forensic Medical Examination Based on Bacteriological Test Results

Abstract

Introduction: The activities of forensic medical examiners are associated with an increased risk of contracting highly infectious diseases. Introduction of standard operating procedures into the daily practice of these health professionals can increase their biological safety. Objective: To evaluate effectiveness of implementing standard operating procedures (SOPs) in order to improve biological safety of the personnel performing autopsies in the Republican Bureau of Forensic Medicine in the city of Kazan. Materials and methods: The results of bacteriological testing of 120 indoor air samples for the total plate count, Staphylococcus aureus, yeast, and mold counts, and 320 surface wipe samples for S. aureus and total coliform counts, collected from February 3, 2021 to June 18, 2021 in the Autopsy Division before and after enforcement of standard operating procedures, were analyzed using the Student’s t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and McNemar test. Results: The analysis of 40 air samples taken after SOP enforcement and tested for the total plate count showed a significant decrease in bacteriological contamination of the premises: from 1,000.0 to 226.7 CFU/m3 (T = 5.7, p < 0.01) and from 812.5 to 165.0 CFU/m3 (T = 6.287, p < 0.001) in the Teaching Autopsy Room and Autopsy Room One, respectively. A statistical decrease was also observed in airborne fungal concentrations in Autopsy Room One (T = 3.727, p < 0.01) and the Teaching Autopsy Room (T = 5.129, p < 0.01). The post-SOP frequency of detection of coliform bacteria on various surfaces and autopsy instruments demonstrated a significant reduction as well (160 wipe samples, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The study results show a pronounced decrease in microbial contamination of the Autopsy Division following introduction of standard operating procedures into the activities of the Republican Bureau of Forensic Medicine in the city of Kazan. It can be argued that standard operating procedures are effective in ensuring biological safety of healthcare workers.