Identification of Bacterial and Fungal Species in Human Cadavers Used in Anatomy Teaching

Claudio Molina; Liliana Berrocal; Matías R Jofré; Carlos Rosas; Ximena Rojas-S

Keywords: bacteria, medical education, dissection, embalming, cadavers, disección, cadáveres, embalsamar, Enseñanza medica

Abstract

Within the framework of undergraduate and postgraduate medical education, cadavers have been used to teach anatomy by dissection or by using prosected specimens. To accomplish this, an appropriated preservation process must guarantee that the cadaver is kept safe for harm, destruction, and decomposition. Embalming fluid contains fixatives, disinfectants, surfactants, buffers, salt, and water, making the cadaver safe for teaching anatomy. However, it remains unclear if there is any risk of dissemination of microorganisms during anatomy teaching, research, and dissection procedures on fixed cadavers. The purpose of this study is to identify bacterial and fungal species in fixed cadaveric material used in anatomy teaching. Samples of cadavers and anatomical sections were cultured and biochemical tests and molecular identification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were performed to identify the microorganisms. The results indicate that fixed cadaveric material has viable bacteria on its surfaces and almost all these correspond to gram-negative bacilli of the Entetribacteriaceue family. In conclusion, fixed cadavers could be a reservoir of bacteria. This study underscores the importance of generating safe manipulation protocols to avoid eventual contamination and disease.

Más información

Título según WOS: Identification of Bacterial and Fungal Species in Human Cadavers Used in Anatomy Teaching
Título según SCOPUS: Identification of bacterial and fungal species in human cadavers used in anatomy teaching [Identificación de especies bacterianas y fúngicas en cadáveres humanos utilizados en la enseñanza de la anatomía]
Título según SCIELO: Identification of Bacterial and Fungal Species in Human Cadavers Used in Anatomy Teaching
Título de la Revista: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY
Volumen: 37
Número: 2
Editorial: SOC CHILENA ANATOMIA
Fecha de publicación: 2019
Página de inicio: 473
Página final: 476
Idioma: English
DOI:

10.4067/S0717-95022019000200473

Notas: ISI, SCIELO, SCOPUS