HIV-infection in the autopsy material (Hamburg 1984-1989)

Abstract

77 HIV-positive corpses were autopsied at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Hamburg (in cooperation with the Bernhard-Nocht Institute) from August 1984 until September 31st, 1989. In the clinical autopsies (29 cases) the patients had always shown manifest AIDS symptoms, while 90% of the HIV-infected forensic autopsy cases had no AIDS symptoms during their lives and mostly died from drug overdose. Authors describe the clinical autopsy findings (Kaposi sarcoma, infections caused by opportunistic pathogenics), serological AIDS screen-examinations, and the precautions applied during the autopsies. They also describe their own methods for the prevention of infection with reference to hygiene in the dissecting rooms.