COVID-19 y estudios microbiológicos post mortem

  1. Amparo Fernández-Rodríguez
  2. Inmaculada Casas
  3. Esther Culebras
  4. Elena Morilla
  5. Marta C. Cohen
  6. Juan Alberola
Journal:
Revista española de medicina legal: órgano de la Asociación Nacional de Médicos Forenses

ISSN: 0377-4732

Year of publication: 2020

Volume: 46

Issue: 3

Pages: 127-138

Type: Article

DOI: 10.1016/J.REML.2020.05.007 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openOpen access editor

More publications in: Revista española de medicina legal: órgano de la Asociación Nacional de Médicos Forenses

Abstract

We review the microbiological aspects of COVID-19 infection and present the microbiological studies that should be performed in forensic cases. We describe the taxonomic characteristics of the virus, its relationship with the Coronaviridae family and its genetic structure. We briefly present the clinical and pathological characteristics of COVID-19 infection, as well as the co-infections that could be associated with this virus. In the laboratory, PCR is a first-choice technique in the acute phase of the infection, together with antigen and serological studies. Finally, we describe the main objectives of microbiological studies in the deceased in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the main post-mortem microbiological analysis to be carried out in the medico-legal context. The microbiological analysis should aim to detect both SARS-CoV-2 and coinfections, which may also contribute to the cause of death.

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Funding information

Los autores quieren expresar su agradecimiento a los miembros del grupo ESGFOR (European Study Group of Forensic and Post-mortem Microbiology de la ESCMID, European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases) por su colaboraci?n y la experiencia aportada con respecto a la pandemia de COVID-19, y especialmente a las Dras. Nihan Ziyade y Neval Elgormus (Ministry of Justice, Council of Forensic Medicine, Postmortem Microbiology Laboratory, Estambul, Turqu?a).

Funders

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