Abstract
Post-mortem microbiological tests are one of the basic methods for diagnosing the etiology of infections in forensic pathology. One of the major groups of microorganisms abundant in various parts of the human body during life and after death is Enterococcus spp. Depending on the area of the body involved and the patient’s condition, enterococci can be considered to be a microbiome, transient flora or a pathogen responsible for infection. The data used for the analysis were 12 medico-legal autopsy and microbiological reports. Enterococcus spp. was isolated in 10 out of 12 cultures of blood samples collected post-mortem. The abdominal origin of enterococci in the blood was detected in 8 cases. The non-abdominal origin of enterococci in the blood was associated with a skin and soft tissue infection, purulent pneumonia and infective endocarditis. These results suggest that enterococci may be considered a cause of severe infections and with high likelihood. Microbiological cultures are a valuable source of information for helping to confirm the cause of infection. Interpretation of the results of post-mortem examinations must be carried out on the basis of data collected before and after death with the participation of specialists from various fields.
Highlights
Microbiological tests are one of the basic methods for diagnosing the etiology of infections in clinical practice, and in forensic pathology
It is even more difficult to interpret post-mortem microbiological tests [1,2,3,4,5,6], the quality of which depends on many factors, i.e., post-mortem interval, antimicrobial treatment and methods used during the collection of materials
10 blood sample cultures collected post-mortem, the presence of strains belonging to the genus Enterococcus was demonstrated (Figure 1 shows an example of a 24 h culture of blood and CSF—cerebrospinal fluid)
Summary
Microbiological tests are one of the basic methods for diagnosing the etiology of infections in clinical practice, and in forensic pathology. During an autopsy, their use should be considered in cases of infection history, where unexplained inflammation is detected and when traumatic and non-infectious causes of death have been excluded. Microbiological cultures carried out for sick patients can provide a lot of useful data. It is even more difficult to interpret post-mortem microbiological tests [1,2,3,4,5,6], the quality of which depends on many factors, i.e., post-mortem interval, antimicrobial treatment and methods used during the collection of materials (specimens obtained in a non-sterile manner leading to the contamination of samples)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
