NOVEL, SAFE, INDIGENOUS COST-EFFECTIVE INFECTION CONTAINMENT CHAMBER FOR HIGH-RISK AUTOPSIES: THE NEED OF THE HOUR

ABSTRACT

In view of the ongoing pandemic, healthcare workers are rightfully concerned about performing autopsies, due to the risk of infection. An autopsy surgeon and his/her team can inadvertently be exposed to infectious diseases. Use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and mortuaries equipped with negative pressure are essential to protect the autopsy team from exposure to potentially infected bodies, bodily fluids, tissues, and aerosolized particles. Unfortunately, in a developing country like India, due to a lack of funding most mortuaries have only the bare minimum facilities. Taking these issues into consideration, the authors have developed a prototype of a Low-Cost Infection Containment Chamber (LCICC) within which autopsies or sample collection from suspected or confirmed highly infectious cadaver can be performed. This innovation could provide infectious disease experts and pathologists a safer alternative to collect specimens to aid in the management outbreaks of highly infectious diseases.