Airborne streptococcal infection during autopsy?

摘要

abstract_textpThe problematic of airborne infections has been known for more than a century. In legal medicine infections caused by airborne pathogens have been studied intensively, particularly in relation to bone dust spread by oscillating saws and the infectivity of dead bodies has been examined in several studies. The HIV virus is known to lose virulence after a few hours but some bacteria can still be cultured after months, years or even decades. The case is reported of a corpse which was the probable source of an airborne streptococcal infection. The 4-day-old corpse which had been permanently refrigerated had organs bloated with gas, much of which escaped during autopsy and 4 days after the autopsy a member of the autopsy team exhibited bilateral pneumonia. Group A hemolytic streptococci were verified In bronchial secretions and blood culture from the corpse and the antibiograms showed identical sensitivities and resistances with samples taken from the team member. This case highlights the need for protection during autopsy as airborne infections are possible and even likely at high bacterial concentrations./p/abstract_text