Marcadores sorológicos de vírus de transmissão parenteral (vírus da hepatite B, hepatite C e da imunodeficiência humana) em cadáveres no serviço de necropsias do Departamento de Medicina Legal em Vitória, ES

Abstract

Introduction. Manipulation of biological material from necropsies is a risk factor for infection with parenteral transmission microorganisms. This risk increases for the professional who perform the necropsies (Physicians and technologists), who sometimes needs to perform manual dissections in order to remove meandering bullets, which enhances the risk for accidents with bone fragments or with fragments of the bullet. It has been demonstrated that the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and the hepatitis C virus (HCV) remain viable variable periods after death. Objectives. To investigate the presence of HIV, HBV and the hepatitis HCV in cadavers submitted to necropsies in the Departamento Médico Legal de Vitória-ES. Methods. It was collected blood from subclavian vein or cardiac cavities from 338 autopsied cadavers within less than 24 hours from death. After centrifugation the serum was stored at minus 20º C. It was used rapid tests for of HIV (Rapid Check HIV 1 e 2® NDI – Núcleo de Doenças Infecciosas/UFES), HBsAg(Imuno-Rápido HBsAg®, WAMA Diagnostica) and HCV (anti-HCV rapid test Bioeasy®, Bioeasy Diagnostica LTDA). All positives tests were confirmed by Chemiluminescent Microparticle Immunoassay – CMIA Architect® (Abbott Laboratories USA). It was registered apparent age, gender, ethnic group, cause of death and presence of tattoos in each of the autopsied corpse. Results: From 338 examined serum, 17 (5,02%) was positive for one of tested virus, with seven (2,07%) positive reactions for HIV, seven (2,07%) for VHC e three (0,89%) for VHB. There were no cases with positive reaction for more than one virus at once. Conclusion: It was established that occurs exposure to the researched viruses during the performance of the autopsies, which reinforces the need for the use of safety measures and auxiliary methods such as radiological ones, reducing the necessity of manual dissection in the search and recovery of firearm projectiles