[Microbiological monitoring of embalmed cadavera during dissection courses (author's transl)]

Microbiological monitoring of normal anatomical specimens was done in order to evaluate results which were obtained in a investigation of decay of embalmed cadavera. The process of decay was characterized by massive colonisation with enterobacteria and aerobic sporeformers. Under normal conditions mainly germs from skin and air are cultivated from surfaces of anatomical specimens, but only in small numbers. The number of germs is increased after periods of intensive preparative work. The results show that the main criterion for the microbiological quality of embalmed cadavera is resistency against external germs during course work. This is to be achieved by consequent preventive measures in the dissection laboratory.