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Aerosols in the mortuary
Abstract:
Air counts in seven mortuaries during necropsies revealed that providing care is taken with washing intestines and close dissection, bacterial numbers are often less than those found in an operating theatre, and relate more to the number of people and movement in the room than the work. The acknowledged hazard of work in the mortuary seems to depend more on contact with infected material, and particularly with splashes on surfaces, than to inhalation of infectious material. Mortuaries should be ventilated, if only to contain the smell, but the recommendations of the Howie code of practice seem more than adequate. Provision of exhaust hoods for close dissection should be considered. Mortuary surfaces should be crack-free and easy to clean, and the room free of needless equipment.
Insights
Mortuary air quality during necropsies is generally good, with bacterial counts lower than operating theatres. The primary infection risk comes from direct contact with infectious materials, not airborne particles.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Public Health
- Occupational Safety
Background:
- Mortuaries are environments where infectious materials are handled during necropsies.
- Understanding airborne and surface contamination is crucial for healthcare worker safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess airborne bacterial levels in mortuaries during necropsies.
- To identify primary routes of infection risk for mortuary staff.
Main Methods:
- Air sampling in seven mortuaries during necropsy procedures.
- Evaluation of bacterial counts in relation to room activity and specific tasks.
Main Results:
- Bacterial counts in mortuary air were often lower than in operating theatres.
- Airborne bacteria levels correlated more with room occupancy and movement than necropsy procedures.
- Contact with infected material and surface splashes pose a greater hazard than inhalation.
Conclusions:
- Standard mortuary ventilation and hygiene practices appear adequate.
- Enhanced local exhaust ventilation for close dissection may be beneficial.
- Maintaining cleanable, crack-free surfaces and minimizing unnecessary equipment are important for safety.