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. 2025 Jul 2;15(1):22858.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-05271-y.

Evaluating the effectiveness of a novel cost-effective aerosol containment chamber for high-risk autopsies: a pilot study

Latif Rajesh Johnson  1 , Daniel Manoj  2 , Benjy Tom Varughese  2 , Ranjit Immanuel James  3
Affiliations

Evaluating the effectiveness of a novel cost-effective aerosol containment chamber for high-risk autopsies: a pilot study

Latif Rajesh Johnson et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Autopsy personnel face substantial occupational risks from exposure to infectious agents, particularly during aerosol-generating procedures like bone sawing. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted these dangers, underscoring the need for innovative safety solutions in resource-limited settings without negative-pressure autopsy suites. To address this, we developed a Low-Cost Infection Containment Chamber (LCICC)-a full-length, transparent, and impermeable structure designed to contain aerosols during high-risk autopsy procedures. This study evaluated the efficacy of LCICC using goat skulls to simulate aerosol generation during sawing. Aerosol densities were measured under both open-air conditions and with LCICC use, employing fluorescein dye for visualization and particle counter for quantification. Statistical analysis confirmed the chamber's effectiveness in reducing occupational exposure. LCICC demonstrated a substantial reduction in aerosol levels, ranging from 85.96 to 88.38% across all particle sizes. Median aerosol densities were consistently recorded at 10.50 mg/m³ with LCICC use, compared to 74.80 to 90.40 mg/m³ in open-air conditions. LCICC's affordability, ease of assembly, and reliable performance position it as a groundbreaking tool for protecting healthcare workers, particularly in low-resource settings. This innovation addresses critical gaps in autopsy safety protocols, offering a practical solution to mitigate risks associated with infectious aerosols while advancing occupational health standards in forensic pathology.

Keywords: Aerosol containment; Autopsy safety; COVID-19; Infection control; Infectious diseases; Occupational health.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board and Ethics Committee of Christian Medical College Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India [IRB Min. No. 13486]. Goat heads used for the simulation of autopsy procedures were ethically procured using funds provided by the institutional fluid grant. Consent for publication: The authors affirm that all personnel provided informed consent for the publication of the images in Figure Nos. 2, 3, 4, and 6. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Low-cost infection containment chamber prototype.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Setup for measuring aerosol spread during sawing.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
a Portable particle counter machine. b The particle counter sampling air through a long tube positioned at the door of the LCICC during sawing inside the chamber.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Fluorescein dye mixed with saline was applied to the mandible to enhance visualization of aerosol splatter during sawing (open air setting).
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Close-up view of fluorescein dye mixed with saline applied to the mandible, enhancing visualization of aerosol splatter during sawing.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Dispersion of fluorescein-marked droplets around the operative site assessed under UV illumination after completion of bone sawing procedures.
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Distribution of the fluorescein droplet spread.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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