METHODS: This is a retrospective study of post mortem cases at Hospital Kuala Lumpur from 2014 to 2016. Deaths from RTC were included while decomposed and homicide cases were excluded. We performed Spearman Correlation statistical test to relate RTC and positive DoA results.
RESULTS: A total of 523 RTC cases were identified in which either blood or urine or both samples were taken for toxicology. 93 cases were positive for both DoA and therapeutic drugs. A total of 37 cases were positive for DoA. Alcohol was present in 5 out of 37 DoA positive cases. Most of the cases seen among 16 to 45 years old (69%) and predominantly in males (93.1%). 29 out of 37 were motorcyclist and the rest were pillion rider and pedestrian. Spearman Correlation statistical test showed a negative relationship between RTC and positive DoA results.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Majority of the DoA cases in RTC were identified in the younger age group and among the motorcyclist. Spearman Correlation statistical test showed that more cases of DoA died in natural or suicidal manner compared to RTC. However, this doesn't reflect the true association of DoA in RTC. This is because of mainly two factors which the delayed effect of DoA that gives negative toxicology test and also the influence of other road users on DoA.
MATERIALS & METHODS: This study was conducted in Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from January 2016 to December 2017. A total of 303 isolates were included in this study which was obtained from 238 patients. The patients' microbiological worksheets and medical notes were reviewed to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, demographic data, classification of infection, and outcome (survival versus death).
RESULTS: Most of the patients were in the age group of one to less than five years old (41%) with 58% male and 85% Malay patients. Common causes of BSI were Staphylococcus aureus (17%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (15%), Acinetobacter baumanii (10%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10%), and Escherichia coli (6%). Sixty percent of BSI episodes were caused by gram-negative bacteria, 34% by gram-positive bacteria, and 6% by fungi. Most of the infections were classified as hospital-acquired infections (72%), followed by healthcareassociated (20%) and community-acquired infections (8%). There were 33% of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, 53% of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Klebsiella pneumoniae, and 33% ESBL producing Escherichia coli. The overall case fatality rate (CFR) was 27% with the highest CFR caused by Serratia marcescens (53.3%).
CONCLUSIONS: The majority of paediatric bloodstream infections are hospital-acquired. Improvement in prevention strategies and revisions in antibiotic policies are important to overcome it.
CASE PRESENTATION: This 7-month-old infant died suddenly at home. Pulmonary artery fibrinoid necrosis, diffuse fatty liver changes, and skin rash were the main histologic postmortem findings. Postmortem urine contained traces of methamphetamine. Methamphetamine was smoked by the parents.
CONCLUSIONS: Fibrinoid necrosis has been described with inhaling methamphetamine and can result in fibrinoid angiitis such as in this case. Although this did not result in pulmonary hemorrhage or could be directly related to death, it does suggest that pulmonary artery fibrinoid necrosis may develop with passive inhalation of methamphetamines.
Methods and Results: The study population was the postmortem cases of Asian population ranging from 16 to 75 years old in which blood and/or urine samples sent for alcohol and/or drug of abuse (DoA) analysis in year 2016 at our centre. Out of 434 cases, 54 from each group of positive and negative alcohol and/or DoA. Postmortem findings of lungs and postmortem CT scan urinary bladder volume (UBV) were recorded. Statistical significant correlation was obtained between urinary bladder distension on postmortem CT scan and cases with positive alcohol detection. However, the sensitivity was relatively low at 51.7%, whereas the specificity was 75% at the cut-off point. Low sensitivity and specificity at around 52.7% were obtained for pulmonary edema related to alcohol/DoA. This showed that UBV alone or pulmonary edema alone was not really a good indicator for alcohol or DoA intoxication. However, combination of both indicators provided higher sensitivity (73.3%) although specificity was lowered to 53.8%.
Conclusion: The findings of postmortem CT scan bladder distension and pulmonary edema could possibly identify intoxication cases but not conclusive.