Health and safety at necropsy

Journal of Clinical Pathology

Volumn 56, Issue 4, 2003, Pages 254-260

  Burton, J L ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

AUTOPSY; BRAIN SPONGIOSIS; BULLET; CADAVER; DEFIBRILLATOR; HAZARD ASSESSMENT; HEALTH; HEPATITIS B; HEPATITIS C; HUMAN; HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS; INFECTION; LABORATORY PERSONNEL; MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS; OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE; OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY; PATHOLOGIST; PRIORITY JOURNAL; RADIATION EXPOSURE; RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION; REVIEW; RISK ASSESSMENT;

AUTOPSY; DISEASE TRANSMISSION, PATIENT-TO-PROFESSIONAL; FOREIGN BODIES; HIV INFECTIONS; HUMANS; OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH; RISK ASSESSMENT; RISK MANAGEMENT; TUBERCULOSIS, CUTANEOUS; TUBERCULOSIS, PULMONARY;

EID: 0037394591     PISSN: 00219746     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1136/jcp.56.4.254     Document Type: Review

References (120)

1. Hall AJ, Aw TC, Harrington JM. Morbidity survey of post mortem room staff. J Clin Pathol 1991;44:433-5.
2. Young SEJ, Healing TD. Infection in the deceased: a survey of management. Communicable Disease Report Review 1995;5:R69-73.
3. Healing T, Hoffman P, Young S. The infection hazards of human cadavers. Communicable Disease Report Review 1995;5:R61-8.
4. Start RD, Dube A, Cross SS, et al. Funeral directors, mortuaries and necropsies: implications for necropsy consent rates and the prevention of infection. J Clin Pathol 1996;49:217-22.
5. Heckerling PS, Johnson Williams M. Attitudes of funeral directors and embalmers toward autopsy. Arch Pathol Lab Med 1992;116:1147-51.
6. Harrington JM, Shannon HS. Incidence of tuberculosis, hepatitis, brucellosis and shigellosis in British medical laboratory workers. BMJ 1976;1:759.
7. Grist NR. Infections in British clinical laboratories, 1980-1981. J Clin Pathol 1983;36:121-6.
8. Grist NR, Emslie JAN. Infections in British clinical laboratories, 1986-87. J Clin Pathol 1989;42:677-81.
9. Grist NR, Emslie JAN. Infections in British clinical laboratories, 1988-1989. J Clin Pathol 1991;44:667-9.
10. Department of Health and Social Security. Health Service management - electrical safety and post-mortem rooms. Health note (82) 39. London: Her Majesty's Stationary Office, 1982.
11. Department of Health. Mortuary and post-mortem room. Health building note 20. London: Her Majesty's Stationary Office, 1991.
12. Her Majesty's Stationary Office. Health and Safety at Work Act. London: Her Majesty's Stationary Office, 1974.
13. Berenzweig G. Pathology laboratories and post mortem raoms: management and control - health and safety aspects. Health Estate Journal 1991;45:10-14.
14. Health Services Advisory Committee. Safety policies in the Health Service. London: Her Majesty's Stationary Office, 1983.
15. Health Services Advisory Committee. Safe working and the prevention of infection in clinical laboratories. London: Her Majesty's Stationary Office, 1991.
16. Royal Institute of Public Health and Hygiene. A handbook of mortuary practice and safety for anatomical pathology technicians. London: Royal Institute of Public Health and Hygiene, 1991.
17. Department of Health. The control of substances hazardous to health: guidance for the initial assessment in hospitals. London: Her Majesty's Stationary Office, 1989.
18. UK Health Departments. Guidance for clinical health care workers: protection against infection with blood-borne viruses. London: Her Majesty's Stationary Office, 1998.
19. UK Health Departments. Management and control of viral haemorrhagic fevers: summary of guidelines from the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens. London: Her Majesty's Stationary Office, 1998.
20. Banatvala JE, Chrystie IL, Breuer J, et al. HIV and the practice of pathology. Report of the Working Party of the Royal College of Pathologists. 1995. London: Marks and Spencer Publications Unit, Royal College of Pathologists.
21. Al-Wali A. Biological safety. In: Burton JL, Rutty GN, eds. The hospital autopsy. London: Arnold, 2001:25-36.
22. Burton JL, Rutty GN. Autopsy suite design and construction. In: Burton JL, Rutty GN, eds. The hospital autopsy. London: Arnold, 2001:37-41.
23. Hall A. Post-mortem hazards. Occupational Health 2002;161-3.
24. Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens. Categorisation of pathogens according to hazard and categories of containment. London: Her Majesty's Stationary Office, 1990.
25. Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens. Microbiological risk assessment: an interim report. London: Her Majesty's Stationary Office, 1996.
26. Aoun H. When a house officer gets AIDS. N Engl J Med 1989;321:693-6.
27. Aoun H. From the eye of the storm, with the eyes of a physician. Ann Int Med 1991;116:335-8.
28. Ippolito G, Puro V, De Carli G, and the Italian Study Group on Occupational Risk of HIV Infection. The risk of occupational human immunodeficiency virus infection in health care workers. Italian multicenter study. Arch Intern Med 1993;153:1451-8.
29. Marcus R and the CDC Cooperative Needlestick Surveillance Group. Surveillance of health care workers exposed to blood from patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. N Engl J Med 1988;319:1118-23.
30. Claydon SM. The high risk autopsy. Recognition and protection. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 1993;14:253-6.
31. Henry K, Dexter D, Sannerud K, et al. Recovery of HIV at autopsy. N Engl J Med 1989;321:1833-4.
32. Ball J, Desselberger U, Whitwell H. Long-lasting viability of HIV after patient's death. Lancet 1991;338:63.
33. Douceron H, Deforges L, Gherardi R, et al. Long-lasting postmortem viability of human immunodeficiency virus: a potential risk in forensic medicine practice. Forensic Sci Int 1993;60:61-6.
34. Kantor HS, Poblete R, Pusateri SL. Nosocomial transmission of tuberculosis from unsuspected disease. JAMA 1988;84:833-7.
35. de Craemer D. Postmortem viability of human immunodeficiency - implications for the teaching of anatomy. N Engl J Med 1994;331:1315.
36. Sadler DW, Pounder DJ, Urquhart GED, et al. Prevalence of HIV antibody in forensic cases. BMJ 1992;304:1027-8.
37. Edlin GP. Active tuberculosis unrecognised until necropsy. Lancet 1978;1:650-2.
38. Landefield CS, Chren M-M, Myers A, et al. Diagnostic yield of the autopsy in a university hospital and a community hospital. N Engl J Med 1988;318:1249-54.
39. Evans B, McHenry A, Mortimer J. HIV and AIDS in the UK. An epidemiological review: 2000. London: Public Health Laboratory Service, 2001.
40. Templeton GL, Illing LA, Young L, et al. The risk for transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis at the bedside and during autopsy. Ann Int Med 1995;122:922-5.
41. Patel F. Over my dead body: coroner's case. Br J Hosp Med 1991;46:11.
42. Lundgren R, Norrman E, Asberg I. Tuberculosis infection transmitted at autopsy. Tubercle 1987;68:147-50.
43. Collins CH, Grange JM. Tuberculosis acquired in laboratories and necropsy rooms. Commun Dis Public Health 1999;2:161-7.
44. Stenton SC, Hendrick DJ. Occupational tuberculosis and a failed postgraduate medical examination. Occup Med 1996;46:87-8.
45. Wilkins D, Woolcock AJ, Cossart YE. Tuberculosis: medical students at risk. Med J Aust 1994;160:395-7.
46. Smith JH. The hazard to pathologists from tuberculous specimens. Hum Pathol 1996;27:1251-2.
47. Goette DK, Jacobson KW, Doty RD. Primary inoculation tuberculosis of the skin: prosector's paronychia. Arch Dermatol 1978;114:567-9.
48. Porter R. Scientific medicine in the nineteenth century. In: The greatest benefit to mankind. A medical history of humanity from antiquity to the present. London: Fontana Press, 1999:308-12.
49. Hill RB, Anderson RE. The recent history of the autopsy. Arch Pathol Lab Med 1996;120:702-12.
50. CDSC. Drug resistant tuberculosis outbreak in North London - update. Commun Dis Rep CDR Wkly 2002;12. (www.phls.co.uk/publications/cdr/archive02/News/news3102.html#TB)
51. Uttamchandani R, Reyes R, Dittes S, et al. Epidemiologic notes and reports: nosocomial transmission of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis to health-care workers and HIV-infected patients in an urban hospital - Florida. MMWR 1990;39:718-22.
52. Teppo L, Ojajärvi J, Brander E. The tuberculosis morbidity among pathologists in Finland Scand J Respir Dis 1974;55:257-61.
53. Lucas SB. HIV and the necropsy. J Clin Pathol 1993;46:1071-5.
54. Pasia OG. Views clash on AIDS autopsy. CAP Today 1987;1:1-9.
55. Patel F. HIV serophobia in the mortuary: an algorithm system for handling high-risk forensic cases. Med Sci Law 1997;37:296-301.
56. de Camargo JLV. AIDS autopsies: has the risk been established? Hum Pathol 1988;19:1115-16.
57. Gottfried EL. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and the clinical laboratory worker. Arch Pathol Lab Med 1987;111:1024-6.
58. Geller SA. The autopsy in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. How and why. Arch Pathol Lab Med 1990;114:324-9.
59. Chamberland ME, Ciesielski CA, Howard RJ, et al. Occupational risk of infection with human immunodeficiency virus. Surg Clin North Am 1995;75:1057-70.
60. Klatt EC. Surgery and human immunodeficiency virus infection: indications, pathologic findings, risks, and risk prevention. Int Surg 1994;79:1-5.
61. Hospital Infections Program and AIDS Program, CDC. Epidemiologic notes and reports update: human immunodeficiency virus infections in health-care workers exposed to blood of infected patients. MMWR 1987;37:285-9.
62. Henderson DK, Fahey FJ, Willy M, et al. Risk for occupational transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) associated with clinical exposures. A prospective evaluation. Ann Int Med 1990;113:740-6.
63. Gerberding JL, Bryant-LeBlanc CE, Nelson K, et al. Risk of transmitting the human immunodeficiency virus, cytomegalovirus, and hepatitis B to health care workers exposed to patients with AIDS and AIDS-related conditions. J Infect Dis 1987;156:1-8.
64. Heptonstall J, Gill ON, Porter K, et al. Health care workers and HIV: surveillance of occupationally acquired infection in the United Kingdom. Communicable Disease Report Review 1993;3:R147-53.
65. Tokars JI, Marcus R, Culver DH, et al. Surveillance of HIV infection and zidovudine use among health care workers after occupational exposure to HIV-infected blood. Ann Int Med 1993;118:913-19.
66. Reichert CM. New safety considerations for the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome autopsy. Arch Pathol Lab Med 1992;116:1109-10.
67. Mast ST, Woolwine JD, Gerberding JL. Efficacy of gloves in reducing blood volumes transferred during simulated needlestick injury. J Infect Dis 1993;168:1589-92.
68. Johnson MD, Schaffner W, Atkinson J, et al. Autopsy risk and acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus infection. A case report and reappraisal. Arch Pathol Lab Med 1997;121:64-6.
69. Ippolito G, and the Studio Italiano Rischio Occupazionale de HIV (SIRHO). Scalpel injury and HIV infection in a surgeon. Lancet 1996;347:1042.
70. CDC Cooperative Needlestick Surveillance Group, Abiteboul D, Lot F, Heptonstall J. Case-control study of HIV seroconversion in health care workers after percutaneous exposure to HIV-infected blood - France, United Kingdom, and United States, January 1988 - August 1994. MMWR 1995;44:929-32.
71. Daar ES, Moudgh T, Meyer MS, et al. Transient high levels of viremia in patients with primary human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection. N Engl J Med 1991;324:961-4.
72. Ho DD, Moudgil T, Alam M. Quantitation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in the blood of infected persons. N Engl J Med 1989;321:1621-5.
73. Schnittman SM, Greenhouse JJ, Psallidopoulos MC, et al. Increasing viral burden in CD4+ T-cells from patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection reflects rapidly progressive immunosuppression and clinical disease. Ann Int Med 1990;113:438-43.
74. Ho DD, Rota TR, Schooley RT, et al. Isolation of HTLV-III from cerebrospinal fluid and neural tissues of patients with neurologic syndromes related to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. N Engl J Med 1985;313:1493-7.
75. Nyberg M, Suni J, Haltia M. Isolation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) at autopsy one to six days postmortem. Am J Clin Pathol 1990;94:422-5.
76. Bankowski MJ, Landay AL, Staes B, et al. Postmortem recovery of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 from plasma and mononuclear cells. Implications for occupational exposure. Arch Pathol Lab Med 1992;116:1124-7.
77. Spire B, Barré-Sinoussi F, Montagnier L, et al. Inactivation of lymphadenopathy associated virus by chemical disinfectants. Lancet 1984;1:899-901.
78. Collins M, Heptonstall J. Occupational acquisition of acute hepatitis B infection by health care workers: England and Wales, 1985-93. Communicable Disease Report Review 1994;4:R153-5.
79. Shapiro CN. Occupational risk of infection with hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus. Surg Clin North Am 1992;75:1047-56.
80. PHLS Hepatitis Subcommittee. Hepatitis C virus: guidance on the risks and current management of occupational exposure. Communicable Disease Report Review 1993;3:R135-9.
81. Brumback RA. Routine use of phenolized formalin in fixation of autopsy brain tissue to reduce risk of inadvertent transmission of Creudzfeldt-Jakob disease. N Engl J Med 1988;319:654.
82. Brown P, Gibbs Jr, CJ, Gajdusek DC, et al. Transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded human tissue. N Engl J Med 1986;315:1614-15.
83. Miller DC. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in histopathology technicians. N Engl J Med 1988;318:853-4.
84. Hawkey PM, Pedler SJ, Southall PJ. Streptococcus pyogenes: a forgotten occupational hazard in the mortuary. BMJ 1980;281:1058.
85. The Royal College of Pathologists. Guidelines on autopsy practice. Report of a working group of The Royal College of Pathologists. London: The Royal College of Pathologists, 2002.
86. Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs, American Medical Association. Confidentiality of human immunodeficiency virus status on autopsy reports. Arch Pathol Lab Med 1992;116:1120-3.
87. Bull AD, Channer J, Cross SS, et al. Should eye protection be worn when performing necropsies? J Clin Pathol 1991;44:782.
88. Weston J, Locker G. Frequency of glove puncture in the post mortem room. J Clin Pathol 1992;45:177-8.
89. O'Briain DS. Patterns of occupational hand injury in pathology. The interaction of blades, needles, and the dissector's digits. Arch Pathol Lab Med 1991;115:610-13.
90. Lucas S. Glove puncture in the post mortem room [letter]. J Clin Pathol 1992;45:548.
91. Dunn PJ. Glove puncture in the post mortem room [letter]. J Clin Pathol 1992;45:548.
92. Gerberding JL, Quebbeman EJ, Rhodes RS. Hand protection. Surg Clin North Am 1992;75:1133-9.
93. Nicolai P, Aldam CH, Allen PW. Increased awareness of glove perforation in major joint replacement. A prospective, randomised study of Regent Biogel Reveal gloves. J Bone Joint Surg Br 1997;79:371-3.
94. Bickel JT, Diaz-Arias AA. Metal mesh gloves for autopsy use. J Forensic Sci 1990;35:12-13.
95. Zugibe FT, Costello J. Protective gloves for high-risk autopsies. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 1995;16:182.
96. Sale GE. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and the pathologist [letter]. Arch Pathol Lab Med 1991;115:741.
97. Dooley SW, Castro KG, Hutton MD, et al. Guidelines for preventing the transmission of tuberculosis in health-care settings, with special focus on HIV-related issues. MMWR Recomm Rep 1990;39:1-29.
98. Newsom SWB, Rowlands C, Matthews J, et al. Aerosols in the mortuary. J Clin Pathol 1983;36:127-32.
99. Al-Wali A, Kibbler CC, McLaughlin JE. Bacteriological evaluation of a down-draught necropsy table ventilation system. J Clin Pathol 1993;46:746-9.
100. Towfighi J, Roberts AF, Foster NE, et al. A protective device for performing cranial autopsies. Hum Pathol 1989;20:288-9.
101. Health Services Advisory Committee. Safe working and the prevention of infection in the mortuary and post-mortem room. London: Her Majesty's Stationary Office, 1991.
102. Maas AE. AIDS autopsy precautions. Pathologist 1985;39:768-9.
103. Walker JEC, Rutty GN, Rodgers B, et al. How should the chest wall be opened at necropsy? J Clin Pathol 2002;55:72-5.
104. Toren K, Jonsson P. Is skull sawing by autopsy assistants overlooked as a cause of vibration-induced white fingers? Scand J Work Environ Health 1996;22:227-9.
105. Abraham JL, Greenfield LJ. Hazard to pathologists and anatomists from vena-caval (Greenfield) filters. Lancet 1995;346:1100.
106. Hutchins KD, williams AW, Natarajan GA. Neck needle foreign bodies. An added risk for autopsy pathologists. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2001;125:790-2.
107. Nosher JL, Siegel R. Percutaneous retrieval of nonvascular foreign bodies. Radiology 1993;187:649-51.
108. Thorne LB, Collins KA. Speedballing with needle embolisation: case study and review of the literature. J Forensic Sci 1998;43:1074-6.
109. Walley VM, Bourke ME, Green M, et al. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators and the pathologist: comment and cautionary notes. J Forensic Sci 1998;43:969-73.
110. Prahlow JA, Guileyardo JM, Barnard JJ. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. A potential hazard for autopsy pathologists. Arch Pathol Lab Med 1997;121:1076-9.
111. Knight B. Explosive bullets: a new hazard for doctors. BMJ 1982;284:768-9.
112. Eckert WG. Exploding bullets. A hazard to the victim, physician, and investigator. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 1981;2:103-4.
113. McCormick GM, II, Young DB, Stewart JC. Wounding effects of the Winchester Black Talon bullet. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 1996;17:124-9.
114. Andrews JM, Sweeney ES, Grey TC, et al. The biohazard potential of cyanide poisoning during postmortem examination. J Forensic Sci 1989;34:1280-4.
115. Nolte KB, Dasgupta A. Prevention of occupational cyanide exposure in autopsy prosectors. J Forensic Sci 1996;41:146-7.
116. Forrest ARW, Galloway JH, Slater DN. The cyanide poisoning necropsy: an appraisal of risk factors. J Clin Pathol 1992;45:544-5.
117. Fernando GCA. Risk of inhalation of cyanide during necropsy. J Clin Pathol 1992;45:942.
118. Geller RJ, Singleton KL, Tarantino ML, et al. Nosocomial poisoning associated with emergency department treatment of organophosphate toxicity - Georgia, 2000. MMWR 2002;49:1156-76.
119. Schraml FV, Parr LF, Ghurani S, et al. Autopsy of a cadaver containing Strontium-89-chloride. J Nucl Med 1997;38:380-2.
120. Nelson IC, Thomas Jr, VW, Kathren RL. Plutonium in South-Central Washington State autopsy tissue samples - 1970-1975. Health Phys 1993;65:422-8.