Abstract
Autopsies of exhumed bodies pose a risk of infections with environmental bacteria or fungi, which may be life-threatening. Thus, it is important to use effective methods of disinfection in forensic pathology facilities. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of no-touch automated disinfection (NTD) system after autopsies of exhumed bodies. Directly after 11 autopsies of exhumed bodies, we used an NTD system based on a peroxone vapor to disinfect the air and surfaces. We measured microbial burden in the air and on surfaces before and after NTD. The NTD system reduced the mean bacterial burden in the air from 171 colony forming units (CFU)/m3 to 3CFU/m3. The mean fungal burden in the air decreased from 221 CFU/m3 to 9CFU/m3. The mean all-surface microbial burden was 79 CFU/100 cm2 after all autopsies, and it decreased to 2 CFU/100 cm2 after NTD. In conclusion, the peroxone-based NTD system was effective for decontamination of the air and surfaces in a dissecting room after autopsies of exhumed bodies.
Highlights
Forensic pathologists are at an increased risk of various infections, those associated with hepatotropic viruses, coronaviruses, meningococci, or Mycobacterium tuberculosis [1,2,3,4,5]
These organisms were identified after autopsies using VITEK® 2 automated system
All identified microorganisms belong to environmental bacteria and fungi
Summary
Forensic pathologists are at an increased risk of various infections, those associated with hepatotropic viruses, coronaviruses, meningococci, or Mycobacterium tuberculosis [1,2,3,4,5]. Autopsies of exhumed bodies pose a particular risk of infections with pathogenic strains of bacteria or fungi from decomposing bodies or environment, which can be life-threatening even in immunocompetent people [5,6]. A community of bacteria, fungi or other organisms colonizing the cadaver is called necrobiome [8]. Fungi metabolize organic matter in situ and change both its biochemical and physicochemical properties and microbial community structure [11]. It is important to use effective methods of disinfection in forensic pathology facilities
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