The Effects of Changing Needles on Reducing Contamination of Postmortem Hemocultures

Abstract

Background: Sepsis is a common cause of death and can be diagnosed through postmortem hemoculture. However, this method carries the risk of contamination. Some experts have argued that using a new needle before inoculation can help reduce the contamination rates.

Objective: To evaluate the contamination rate from postmortem hemoculture in needle-changing and no-needle-changing groups.

Methods: The present study analyzed postmortem hemoculture results from autopsy cases at Ramathibodi Hospital. Forty deceased individuals who had died within 24 hours and were not suspected of having an infection were included in the study. The blood samples were divided into 2 groups: one in which the needle was changed before inoculation and the other in which it was not. Differences in hemoculture results between the 2 methods were examined.

Results: No statistically significant difference was detected in the positive culture rate between the needle-changing (57.5%) and non-needle-changing groups (57.5%) (P = 1.00). The Kappa coefficient was 0.795. Viridans group streptococci, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae complex, Enterobacter cloacae complex, and Acinetobacter baumannii complex were the most commonly cultured bacteria.

Conclusions: Changing the needles did not reduce the contamination rate from postmortem hemocultures. Microorganisms commonly found in postmortem hemocultures are oral, gastrointestinal, and hospital-associated microorganisms.