Page 133 - policy and procedure infection control

Policies and Procedures on Infection Control

• All disposable clothing and boots are removed by the pathologists at the post
mortem room door or decontamination dock and discarded as infectious waste.
The technician then places the boots into the appropriate disinfectant to soak.
• After the appropriate time the body bag can be swilled off with water and then
placed into another clean body bag, which is sealed and over-sealed with bio-
hazard tape.
• The name of the deceased is then written on the body bag in marker pen (and
any jewellery, if present).
• The post mortem table is wiped down with the appropriate disinfectant (there
should be no fluid spillage onto the table if the autopsy was carried out in the
body bag) and swilled with water. Boots are swilled in water and dried.
• The yellow bags are re-bagged into another yellow bag, and with the sharp bins,
are sealed with bio-hazard tape and taken to the clinical waste collection point.
• Surgical tops and bottoms are placed into relevant contaminated laundry bags
and pathologist and technician shower before changing into outside clothes and
leaving the mortuary.
• The undertakers who will carry out the funeral should be notified that the body is
infected and that when they come to collect the body the proper coffin should be
brought (not a stretcher or shell).
• When they come for the body, the body bag will not be opened but placed directly
into the coffin.
• The undertakers will be told of the potential risks of contamination and that:

 The body bag should not be opened
 The body should not be embalmed; and
 Relatives should be discouraged from viewing the body. If the relatives insist
they may see the face only, and must not touch or kiss it.

 The undertakers should then sign for the body in the mortuary register through
the words ‘INFECTED BODY’, written in red ink so they aware that the body
they have collected is infected.

 The fridge that the body was on should then be wiped over with appropriate
disinfectant, left for 1 hour and swilled with water.
3. Procedure for post-mortem examination of known or suspected CJD/
Spongiform encephalopathy (refer the document from mortuary)

• The procedure for examination high risk cases including HIV, hepatitis and
tuberculosis, can be used for examination of cases with known or suspected
spongiform encephalopathy which is also practiced by the Neurosciences Unit
at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.
• The only differences that will be required being:
o A dedicated set of equipment only for CJD cases must be used to avoid
contaminating all other sets; and

122 Ministry of Health Malaysia