A Study of the Bacterial Flora of Organs and Body-Fluids at Necropsies

During the past year a careful systematic bacteriological study has been made upon the organs and body-fluids that were obtained from 168 necropsies. This communication is a preliminary statement concerning the results obtained and the technique employed.

The technique for the collection of the material from the organs and body-fluids consists of carefully searing the surface of the organ or vessel and removing a portion of the tissue. The material is immediately placed in a sterile receptacle and removed to the laboratory where various kinds of media are inoculated. The media used routinely for every organ and fluid is (1) a surface infusion agar plate that contains 5% rabbit blood; (2) infusion broth; (3) Holman's Meat Media and (4) Sabouraud's agar. In addition, for each fluid specimen obtained, 2 pour agar plates are prepared for the purpose of a quantitative estimation of the organisms present. Direct smears that have been stained by a special bacteriological stain have recently been added as a routine procedure for every organ or fluid cultured. This is to serve as a microscopic check for the cultured findings.

The bacteriological studies were made upon necropsies from many different pathological conditions, including deaths from acute and chronic causes and several deaths due to accidents. There was, in 75% of necropsies, an average of one to 5 hours elapsing between the time of death and the time of culturing. Very few necropsies had an interval of 24 to 48 hours before culturing. Of these, it is surprising to find that the greater portion were free of organisms. However, it was found that if there were 7 to 9 hours elapsing between time of death and time of culturing there would be an increase in the frequency of the occurrence of anaerobic organisms within the tissues.