The importance of the postmortem interval for the diagnosis of Waterhouse–Friderichsen syndrome by Neisseria meningitidis in a series of forensic cases

Guendalina Gentile; Alberto Amadasi; Paolo Bailo; Michele Boracchi; Francesca Maciocco; Matteo Marchesi; Riccardo Zoja

doi:10.4322/acr.2019.103

Article / Autopsy Case Report

The importance of the postmortem interval for the diagnosis of Waterhouse–Friderichsen syndrome by Neisseria meningitidis in a series of forensic cases

Guendalina Gentile; Alberto Amadasi; Paolo Bailo; Michele Boracchi; Francesca Maciocco; Matteo Marchesi; Riccardo Zoja

http://dx.doi.org/10.4322/acr.2019.103 Autops Case Rep, vol.9, n3, e2019103, 2019

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Abstract

The effective value of microbiological post-mortem examinations stands as fundamental in forensic cases involving microbiology. We ran these analyses on five victims, who suddenly died after showing persistent fever. The examinations were conducted between 48 hours and 10 days after death, and adrenal gland apoplexy was detected in all the cases.

Microbiological examinations identified Neisseria meningitidis, which was accountable for Waterhouse–Friderichsen syndrome. Diplococci were isolated from three cadavers that underwent forensic dissection between 2 and 3 days after death. The remaining two cadavers showed polymicrobial contamination, and a polymerase chain reaction technique was necessary to identify the pathogen.

We assumed that the microbial overlap could lead to diagnostic mistakes and conceal the identification of the lethal pathogen. Therefore, we suggest using molecular techniques for a postmortem interval (PMI) longer than 72 hours. Classical microbiological examination should be performed for PMI within 72 hours.

Keywords

Autopsy, Forensic Microbiology, Waterhouse-Friderichsen Syndrome, Post-Mortem Interval

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Publication date:
07/12/2019

The importance of the postmortem interval for the diagnosis of Waterhouse–Friderichsen syndrome by Neisseria meningitidis in a series of forensic cases

Guendalina Gentile; Alberto Amadasi; Paolo Bailo; Michele Boracchi; Francesca Maciocco; Matteo Marchesi; Riccardo Zoja

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