SAFE AUTOPSY PRACTICES, UNIVERSAL PRECAUTION, AND HOSPITAL INFECTION CONTROL TO PREVENT INFECTIONS DURING THE AUTOPSY

Abstract

The concept of safety regulations in autopsy practice, such as universal precautions, was emphasized following the appearance of the Human Immunodeciency Virus as a health problem. Contaminated sharps and needles, blood and body uids, and contaminated aerosols are all potential sources for transmitting infectious agents during the postmortem examination. Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus are matters of concern for the health care worker handling the dead bodies, especially when the infectious status is unknown. The recent outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic and handling of such infected bodies puts the autopsy practice into a high-risk job, even with the advent of guidelines and protective measures. The hazard groups, risk of infections, prevention methods, universal precautions, safe autopsy practices, and proper biomedical waste management are discussed in detail, emphasizing Human Immunodeciency Virus, Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatitis C Virus, and Covid-19.