Postmortem bacteriology in forensic practice

01 / Abstract

Context and purpose.

Postmortem bacteriology can clarify deaths involving suspected infection, identify an aetiological agent not recognised during life, and contribute to the assessment of infectious complications of trauma and medical care. Its value depends on the investigative question, sampling quality and integration of the findings. A positive culture from a cadaveric specimen is not equivalent to antemortem infection, sepsis or proof of a causal relationship with death. Exogenous contamination, colonisation, agonal changes and postmortem translocation may produce apparently persuasive results with different meanings.

This review examines preanalytical principles, specimen selection, interpretation of positive and negative cultures, the relationship with histopathology and molecular methods, and applications to healthcare-associated infections. European evidence and published Romanian experience are critically discussed. An interpretative framework, examples of conclusion wording and priorities for practice development are proposed. The central conclusion is that postmortem bacteriology acquires evidential strength through the convergence of independent evidence, rather than the mere detection of a microorganism.

02 / Key findings

Conclusions to retain.

1. 01A positive culture does not independently establish antemortem infection, sepsis or fatal causation.
2. 02Aseptic sampling, preservation and traceability determine specimen value.
3. 03Negative cultures do not exclude infection, particularly after antibiotic treatment.
4. 04Molecular methods complement investigation, but DNA detection does not establish viability.
5. 05A resistant postmortem isolate does not independently prove hospital acquisition or medical negligence.

03 / Structure

What the paper examines.

1. 01Aim, method and limitations of the review
2. 02What can postmortem bacteriology establish?
3. 03Biological processes and artefacts requiring differentiation
4. 04Postmortem interval and preservation of the body
5. 05Sampling: the stage that cannot be repaired retrospectively
6. 06Specimen selection: the site must answer the question
7. 07Interpreting a positive culture
8. 08What does a negative result mean?
9. 09Histopathology and the postmortem diagnosis of sepsis
10. 10PCR, sequencing and metagenomics
11. 11Romanian evidence and the contribution of recent studies
12. 12Healthcare-associated infection and suspected medical negligence
13. 13A practical framework for conclusions
14. 14Three hypothetical reasoning examples
15. 15The thanatomicrobiome and development priorities
16. 16Conclusions

04 / Full paper

Read or download.

Read the full English edition, including the tables, conclusions and references.

05 / Citation and use

Suggested reference.

Chiriac S. Postmortem bacteriology in forensic practice. Critical narrative review. 25 September 2026. sergheichiriac.ro.

Scientific and educational review material. Substantial reproduction requires acknowledgement of the source; conclusions must be interpreted in the full context of the paper and its references.