Abstract
AIMS--To evaluate the microbiological efficacy of a down-draught necropsy table ventilation system (which surrounds the cadaver with a "curtain" of air under continuous extraction) during post mortem procedures. METHODS--Air sampling was carried out both in the presence and absence of staff and cadaver and during a full post mortem procedure, with functioning and non-functioning table air extraction. The penetration of the air "curtain" was also examined during the use of an oscillating bone saw by means of a tracer organism, Bacillus subtilis var niger, painted on to the skull. RESULTS--There was little difference between bacterial counts obtained in the presence of staff only, staff plus cadaver, or during a post mortem examination. With all counts obtained, however, there was a two to three-fold reduction when the ventilation was in operation compared with when the extract duct was occluded. Using the tracer organism, a two to three log reduction in counts was shown when the "curtain" was in operation during the use of the oscillating bone saw. CONCLUSIONS--These results suggest that the system provides potential protection for post mortem room staff against airborne infections.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Babb J. R., Hall A. J., Marlin R., Ayliffe G. A. Bacteriological sampling of postmortem rooms. J Clin Pathol. 1989 Jul;42(7):682–688. doi: 10.1136/jcp.42.7.682. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Dienstag J. L., Ryan D. M. Occupational exposure to hepatitis B virus in hospital personnel: infection or immunization? Am J Epidemiol. 1982 Jan;115(1):26–39. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a113277. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Grist N. R., Emslie J. A. Infections in British clinical laboratories, 1984-5. J Clin Pathol. 1987 Aug;40(8):826–829. doi: 10.1136/jcp.40.8.826. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Grist N. R., Emslie J. A. Infections in British clinical laboratories, 1986-87. J Clin Pathol. 1989 Jul;42(7):677–681. doi: 10.1136/jcp.42.7.677. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Grist N. R., Emslie J. A. Infections in British clinical laboratories, 1988-1989. J Clin Pathol. 1991 Aug;44(8):667–669. doi: 10.1136/jcp.44.8.667. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Grist N. R., Emslie J. Infections in British clinical laboratories, 1982-3. J Clin Pathol. 1985 Jul;38(7):721–725. doi: 10.1136/jcp.38.7.721. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Harrington J. M., Shannon H. S. Incidence of tuberculosis, hepatitis, brucellosis, and shigellosis in British medical laboratory workers. Br Med J. 1976 Mar 27;1(6012):759–762. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.6012.759. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Johnson G. K., Robinson W. S. Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) in the vapors of surgical power instruments. J Med Virol. 1991 Jan;33(1):47–50. doi: 10.1002/jmv.1890330110. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kelly J. D., McLaughlin J. E. The application of down-draught ventilation systems in the pathology laboratory and post mortem room. Health Estate J. 1990 May;44(4):7–10. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Newsom S. W., Rowlands C., Matthews J., Elliot C. J. Aerosols in the mortuary. J Clin Pathol. 1983 Feb;36(2):127–132. doi: 10.1136/jcp.36.2.127. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- REID D. D. Incidence of tuberculosis among workers in medical laboratories. Br Med J. 1957 Jul 6;2(5035):10–14. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.5035.10. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sugita M., Tsutsumi Y., Suchi M., Kasuga H., Ishiko T. Pulmonary tuberculosis. An occupational hazard for pathologists and pathology technicians in Japan. Acta Pathol Jpn. 1990 Feb;40(2):116–127. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1827.1990.tb01550.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]