PREVENTION OF OCCUPATIONAL CYANIDE EXPOSURE IN AUTOPSY PROSECTORS

Autopsy prosectors examining individuals with cyanide poisoning are at risk for occupational cyanide exposure. No protective autopsy precaut ions to mitigate this risk have been published. We report an autopsy o n an individual with cyanide poisoning where the procedure was perform ed in a negatively pressured isolation room and the stomach was opened under a biosafety cabinet hood. None of the three autopsy prosectors had measurable cyanide in pre of post procedure blood specimens. We re commend that similar precautions be taken in all autopsies where cyani de is suspected as a possible cause of death.