FENTANYL PATCHES LEFT ON DEAD BODIES - POTENTIAL SOURCE OF DRUG FOR ABUSERS

We report a fatal case of fentanyl poisoning in which the decedent app arently obtained the drug from a used transdermal patch removed from a deceased nursing home patient. Fentanyl drug patches, even those prev iously used, contain a potentially lethal amount of this potent narcot ic analgesic and provide a source of fentanyl for drug abusers. This c ase demonstrates the importance of proper disposal of these drug patch es and the need for strict policies and guidelines in patient care set tings regarding their disposal. Since fentanyl derivatives may not be detected on routine toxicologic analysis, specific assays should be ut ilized for the detection of fentanyl in cases of suspected drug overdo se.