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Kantonen JN, Kuivanen S, Smura T, Puttonen H, Kekäläinen E, Sajantila A, Myllykangas L, Kantele A, Vapalahti O, Mäyränpää MI, Carpén O. Infective SARS-CoV-2 in Skull Sawdust at Autopsy, Finland. Emerg Infect Dis 2024; 30:1735-1737. [PMID: 39043418 PMCID: PMC11286058 DOI: 10.3201/eid3008.240145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
We assessed the distribution of SARS-CoV-2 at autopsy in 22 deceased persons with confirmed COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 was found by PCR (2/22, 9.1%) and by culture (1/22, 4.5%) in skull sawdust, suggesting that live virus is present in tissues postmortem, including bone. Occupational exposure risk is low with appropriate personal protective equipment.
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Suresh V, Nimbarte A, Ryu J, Choudhury A. Exploring the challenges and risks of dead body handling faced by healthcare professionals during the coronavirus pandemic: Cross sectional survey study. APPLIED ERGONOMICS 2024; 118:104280. [PMID: 38560964 DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2024.104280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The coronavirus pandemic shocked the already overwhelmed global healthcare system, challenging its preparedness to deal with mass fatalities. Our research examines the safety issues faced by healthcare workers when handling dead (deceased) bodies, highlighting the need for better strategies in the event of mass fatalities. Healthcare providers involved in dead body handling during the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. were eligible to participate in our study. Using a web-based survey, we analyzed responses of 206 participants across 43 U.S. states. We used the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) framework to deduce themes from participants' open-ended responses. The study showed how routine tasks become extraordinarily challenging during pandemic due to increased workload, emotional stress, and resource constraints. Tasks such as lifting and transferring bodies, underscored physical and emotional toll on workers. The mental strain induced by mass fatalities and the complexities of communicating with families and peers were also prominent, adding to the overall burden on healthcare workers. The participants emphasized the importance of specialized training, policy refinements, and improvements in its implementation. In conclusion, our study contributes to understanding the complexities of dead body handling during a pandemic. It underscores the need for emergency response planning and systemic changes in healthcare policies and practices to ensure the safety and well-being of healthcare workers engaged in these critical tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaishakhi Suresh
- Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA.
| | - Ashish Nimbarte
- Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA.
| | - JuHyeong Ryu
- Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA.
| | - Avishek Choudhury
- Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA.
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Tomao P, La Russa R, Oliva A, De Angelis M, Mansi A, Paba E, Marcelloni AM, Chiominto A, Padovano M, Maiese A, Scopetti M, Frati P, Fineschi V. Mapping Biological Risks Related to Necropsy Activities: Old Concerns and Novel Issues for the Safety of Health Professionals. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182211947. [PMID: 34831702 PMCID: PMC8618163 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182211947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Nowadays only a few studies on biological and environmental risk among healthcare workers are available in literature. The present study aims to assess the health operator’s risk of contact with microorganisms during necropsy activities, to evaluate the efficiency of current protections, to identify possible new sources of contact, and to point out possible preventive measures. In addition, considering the current pandemic scenario, the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the dissection room is assessed. The objectives were pursued through two distinct monitoring campaigns carried out in different periods through sampling performed both on the corpses and at the environmental level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Tomao
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority (INAIL), 00078 Rome, Italy; (P.T.); (A.M.); (E.P.); (A.M.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Raffaele La Russa
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy;
- IRCSS Neuromed Mediterranean Neurological Institute, Via Atinense 18, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy; (A.O.); (P.F.)
| | - Alessandra Oliva
- IRCSS Neuromed Mediterranean Neurological Institute, Via Atinense 18, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy; (A.O.); (P.F.)
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Massimiliano De Angelis
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Antonella Mansi
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority (INAIL), 00078 Rome, Italy; (P.T.); (A.M.); (E.P.); (A.M.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Emilia Paba
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority (INAIL), 00078 Rome, Italy; (P.T.); (A.M.); (E.P.); (A.M.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Anna Maria Marcelloni
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority (INAIL), 00078 Rome, Italy; (P.T.); (A.M.); (E.P.); (A.M.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Alessandra Chiominto
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority (INAIL), 00078 Rome, Italy; (P.T.); (A.M.); (E.P.); (A.M.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Martina Padovano
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Science, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 336, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Aniello Maiese
- Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Surgical Pathology, Medical, Molecular and Critical Area, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Matteo Scopetti
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Science, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 336, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Paola Frati
- IRCSS Neuromed Mediterranean Neurological Institute, Via Atinense 18, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy; (A.O.); (P.F.)
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Science, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 336, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Vittorio Fineschi
- IRCSS Neuromed Mediterranean Neurological Institute, Via Atinense 18, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy; (A.O.); (P.F.)
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Science, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 336, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.P.); (M.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-06-49912907
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Pathology, Publishing, and a Pandemic. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2021; 191:2-3. [PMID: 33339547 PMCID: PMC8719912 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2020.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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