Prevalence of HCV, HBV, and HIV Seropositivity among Cadavers Referred to Autopsy Hall of Legal Medicine Bureau of Tehran, Iran

Abstract

A large number of dead bodies are referred to forensic autopsy halls for medicolegal examination. They can be a source of transmission of infectious diseases through direct contact or autopsy tools. The main aim of this study was to estimate the virus infection rates in the dead bodies. One thousand consecutive dead bodies that had been referred to autopsy hall of Legal Medicine Bureau of Tehran, Iran, during 2016, were included. The blood samples were analyzed in the laboratory for detection of HBs Ag, HBs Ab, HIV Ab, and HCV Ab, after providing informed consent from legal next of kin of the dead bodies. The general characteristics of the dead bodies were also collected by a checklist. Forty-seven cases of HIV seropositivity, 80 cases of HBs Ag seropositivity, and 97 cases for HCV Ab seropositivity were found. Among them, 27 cases of HIV, 40 cases of anti-HBC positive, and 94 cases of RIBA testing positive for HCV were proved through confirmatory tests. In other words, 2.6% of the dead bodies were infected with HIV, 3.8% with HBV, and 9% with HCV. The total infection rate was 15.5%. This is a worrying risk for pathologist and autopsy technicians.

Mapping Biological Risks Related to Necropsy Activities: Old Concerns and Novel Issues for the Safety of Health Professionals

“…Biorisk is an important element in the prevention of occupational accidents in forensic practice. Among all doctors, pathologists are considered to be at greatest risk from high blood exposure and the fact that judicial autopsies are performed on subjects with higher infectious risk for HBV, HCV and HIV [34,35].…”

Workplace hazards in forensic mortuaries in Saudi Arabia: A survey of forensic mortuary personnel

“…Awareness of these infections and routine vaccinations among the forensic mortuary staff have led to a decrease in forensic mortuary–acquired infections in the past 25 years. 22 However, a significant number of dead bodies might be infected with pathogens and transmit infections when safety measures are not implemented appropriately. A study conducted in Iran found that 2.6% of dead bodies were infected with HIV, 3.8% with HBV and 9% with HCV.…”

Biosafety in autopsy room: an systematic review

“…This study identified the following pathogens: M.tuberculosis, hepatitis virus, HIV and prions responsible for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. All of them maintain infectivity after death (28,(40)(41)(42)64), cause diseases often asymptomatic, with no morphological evidence at autopsy.…”

“…Gharehdaghi (40) showed a 15,5% risk of HIV, HBV and HCV contamination in the handling of bodies (2,6%, 3,8% and 9%, respectively). These data are important because HBV is about 100 times more transmissible by blood and aerosols than HIV (6).…”

“…Its prevalence coefficients are directly related to the populations at risk (drug users, prostitutes, individuals with tattoos, transplant patients, etc.) (6,7,39,40,41,44).…”