Postmortem Bacteriology: A Practical Method for Routine Use

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Abstract
The results of bacteriologic cultures from 50 consecutive postmortem examinations, made with generally accepted standard specimen collection techniques, were compared with results from an addition 50 consecutive autopsies in which similar sites or tissues were cultured, but the methods of obtaining the material were modified. The significant difference in techniques between the 2 series was the use of small tissue blocks obtained with separate sets of sterile instruments in the latter group. Approximately 50% of cultures from the 2nd group of autopsies were sterile, in contrast to slightly less than 20% sterile cultures from the cases on which the common standard methods of obtaining postmortem materials for bacteriologic examination were used. The results obtained with the new method compare favorably with results from autopsies performed under "sterile" conditions; furthermore, no evidence of bacterial dissemination was seen for up to 24 hr. after death.

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