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Tytuł:
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Analysis of the persistence time of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the cadaver and the risk of passing infection to autopsy staff.
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Autorzy:
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Aquila I; Institute of Legal Medicine, Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, University 'Magna Graecia' of Catanzaro, Italy.
Ricci P; Institute of Legal Medicine, Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, University 'Magna Graecia' of Catanzaro, Italy.
Bonetta CF; Institute of Legal Medicine, Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, University 'Magna Graecia' of Catanzaro, Italy.
Sacco MA; Institute of Legal Medicine, Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, University 'Magna Graecia' of Catanzaro, Italy.
Longhini F; Intensive Care Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University 'Magna Graecia' of Catanzaro, Italy.
Torti C; Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University 'Magna Graecia' of Catanzaro, Italy.
Mazzitelli M; Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University 'Magna Graecia' of Catanzaro, Italy.
Garofalo E; Intensive Care Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University 'Magna Graecia' of Catanzaro, Italy.
Bruni A; Intensive Care Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University 'Magna Graecia' of Catanzaro, Italy.
Trecarichi EM; Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University 'Magna Graecia' of Catanzaro, Italy.
Serapide F; Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University 'Magna Graecia' of Catanzaro, Italy.
Gratteri S; Institute of Legal Medicine, Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, University 'Magna Graecia' of Catanzaro, Italy.
Quirino A; Clinical Microbiology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University 'Magna Graecia' of Catanzaro, Italy.
Barreca GS; Clinical Microbiology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University 'Magna Graecia' of Catanzaro, Italy.
Abenavoli L; Department of Health Sciences, University 'Magna Graecia' of Catanzaro, Italy.
Arena V; Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Istituto di Anatomia Patologica, Università Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
Oliva A; Department of Health Surveillance and Bioethics, Section of Legal Medicine, Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
Giancotti A; Clinical Microbiology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University 'Magna Graecia' of Catanzaro, Italy.
Iavicoli I; Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Liberto MC; Clinical Microbiology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University 'Magna Graecia' of Catanzaro, Italy.
Matera G; Clinical Microbiology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University 'Magna Graecia' of Catanzaro, Italy.
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Źródło:
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The Medico-legal journal [Med Leg J] 2021 Mar; Vol. 89 (1), pp. 40-53. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Jan 21.
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Typ publikacji:
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Journal Article
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Język:
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English
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Imprint Name(s):
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Publication: Dec. 2012- : London : Sage
Original Publication: Cambridge, Heffer.
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MeSH Terms:
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Autopsy*
Cadaver*
Postmortem Changes*
COVID-19/*transmission
SARS-CoV-2/*pathogenicity
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Italy/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Time Factors ; Young Adult
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Contributed Indexing:
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Keywords: Autopsy; Covid-19; SARS-CoV-2; infectious disease; public health; swabs
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Entry Date(s):
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Date Created: 20210121 Date Completed: 20210316 Latest Revision: 20210316
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Update Code:
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20240105
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DOI:
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10.1177/0025817220980601
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PMID:
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33475037
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The activity of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has not yet been studied in a post-mortem setting. The absence of these data has led to the prohibition of exposure of infected corpses during burial procedures. Our aim was to assess the virus's persistence and the possibility of transmission in the post-mortem phase including autopsy staff. The sample group included 29 patients who were admitted to our Covid-19 Centre who died during hospitalisation and the autopsy staff. All the swabs were subjected to a one-step real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction with cycle threshold (Ct) values. Swab collection was performed at 2 h, 4 h, 6 h, 12 h, over 24 since death. The following were the analysis of patients' swabs: 10 cases were positive 2 h after death; 10 cases positive 4 h after death; 9 cases were found positive 6 h after death; 7 cases positive 12 h after death; 9 cases remained positive 24 h after death. The swabs performed on all the forensic pathologist staff on duty who performed the autopsies were negative. The choice to avoid rituals and the display of corpses before and at the burial procedures given appears cautiously valid due to the persistence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the post-mortem period. Although the caution in choosing whether or not to perform an autopsy on infected corpses is acceptable, not to perform autopsies is not biologically supported.