Scientific article
English

Bacterial Translocation and Sample Contamination in Postmortem Microbiological Analyses

Published inJournal of forensic sciences, vol. 61, no. 2, p. 367-374
Publication date2016-03
First online date2015-12-31
Abstract

The diagnostic value of postmortem bacteriology has been discussed controversially for decades. In the study herein, contamination during sampling procedures and postmortem translocation were investigated to interpret postmortem microbiology results. One hundred medicolegal autopsy cases in total were included. Radiology, histology, bacteriology, and biochemistry were performed in all cases. Based on all investigation findings, 4 groups of cases were identified: death unrelated to infection, true infections, false positive (contamination during sampling procedures, postmortem translocation and mixed situations), and undetermined. The results of this study indicate that postmortem bacteriology provides useful data supporting infection-related deaths, especially when potentially significant observations are accompanied by consistent autopsy, histology, and biochemistry. Result interpretation requires careful evaluation of number and type of isolated microorganisms.

Keywords
  • Autopsy
  • Blood culture
  • Forensic science
  • Infection
  • Postmortem bacteriology
  • Postmortem biochemistry
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Bacterial Translocation
  • Forensic Pathology
  • Humans
  • Infections / diagnosis
  • Infections / microbiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Postmortem Changes
  • Prospective Studies
  • Specimen Handling
  • Young Adult
Citation (ISO format)
PALMIERE, Cristian et al. Bacterial Translocation and Sample Contamination in Postmortem Microbiological Analyses. In: Journal of forensic sciences, 2016, vol. 61, n° 2, p. 367–374. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.12991
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Article (Published version)
accessLevelRestricted
Identifiers
Journal ISSN0022-1198
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