tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2020 May 12. doi: 10.1007/s12024-020-00258-9. [Epub ahead of print]
A technical report from the Italian SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. Postmortem sampling and autopsy investigation in cases of suspected or probable COVID-19.
Santurro A[SUP]1[/SUP], Scopetti M[SUP]1[/SUP], D'Errico S[SUP]2[/SUP], Fineschi V[SUP]3[/SUP].
Author information
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) is a coronavirus responsible for COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) which resulted in a cluster of cases of pneumonia that originated in China around 31 December 2019 and has subsequently spread across the globe. Currently, COVID-19 represents a health emergency worldwide, leading, in severe cases, to pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, multiorgan dysfunction or failure, and death. In the context of limited scientific knowledge and evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, guidance is becoming increasingly necessary for pathologists who have to perform postmortem investigations on COVID-19 cases. The aim of the present report is to share a procedure applicable to cases of COVID-19-related death, particularly in cases of death without medical intervention and in the absence of an ascertained SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or COVID-19 diagnosis, therefore providing support for diagnostic activity in the present COVID-19 pandemic. For this purpose, a standard operating procedure for correct swab collection, autopsy investigation and tissue sampling is provided.
KEYWORDS:
Autopsy investigation; COVID-19; Postmortem diagnosis; SARS-CoV-2; Virological diagnosis
PMID:32399755DOI:10.1007/s12024-020-00258-9
Free PMC Article
A technical report from the Italian SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. Postmortem sampling and autopsy investigation in cases of suspected or probable COVID-19.
Santurro A[SUP]1[/SUP], Scopetti M[SUP]1[/SUP], D'Errico S[SUP]2[/SUP], Fineschi V[SUP]3[/SUP].
Author information
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) is a coronavirus responsible for COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) which resulted in a cluster of cases of pneumonia that originated in China around 31 December 2019 and has subsequently spread across the globe. Currently, COVID-19 represents a health emergency worldwide, leading, in severe cases, to pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, multiorgan dysfunction or failure, and death. In the context of limited scientific knowledge and evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, guidance is becoming increasingly necessary for pathologists who have to perform postmortem investigations on COVID-19 cases. The aim of the present report is to share a procedure applicable to cases of COVID-19-related death, particularly in cases of death without medical intervention and in the absence of an ascertained SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or COVID-19 diagnosis, therefore providing support for diagnostic activity in the present COVID-19 pandemic. For this purpose, a standard operating procedure for correct swab collection, autopsy investigation and tissue sampling is provided.
KEYWORDS:
Autopsy investigation; COVID-19; Postmortem diagnosis; SARS-CoV-2; Virological diagnosis
PMID:32399755DOI:10.1007/s12024-020-00258-9
Free PMC Article