The importance of the postmortem interval for the diagnosis of WaterhouseFriderichsen syndrome by Neisseria meningitidis in a series of forensic cases
Autops. Case Rep
; 9(3): e2019103, July-Sept. 2019. ilus, tab
Article
em En
| LILACS
| ID: biblio-1016864
Biblioteca responsável:
BR26.7
ABSTRACT
The effective value of microbiological post-mortem examinations stands as fundamental in forensic cases involving microbiology. We ran these analyses on five victims, who suddenly died after showing persistent fever. The examinations were conducted between 48 hours and 10 days after death, and adrenal gland apoplexy was detected in all the cases. Microbiological examinations identified Neisseria meningitidis, which was accountable for WaterhouseFriderichsen syndrome. Diplococci were isolated from three cadavers that underwent forensic dissection between 2 and 3 days after death. The remaining two cadavers showed polymicrobial contamination, and a polymerase chain reaction technique was necessary to identify the pathogen. We assumed that the microbial overlap could lead to diagnostic mistakes and conceal the identification of the lethal pathogen. Therefore, we suggest using molecular techniques for a postmortem interval (PMI) longer than 72 hours. Classical microbiological examination should be performed for PMI within 72 hours.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
LILACS
Assunto principal:
Autopsia
/
Síndrome de Waterhouse-Friderichsen
/
Técnicas Microbiológicas
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
Limite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Autops. Case Rep
Assunto da revista:
Anatomia
/
Patologia Cl¡nica
/
Patologia Legal
Ano de publicação:
2019
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Itália
País de publicação:
Brasil