An Evaluation of Autopsy Review as a Technique for Infection Control: A Procedure of Questionable Value

Review of necropsy reports for evidence of undiagnosed antemortem infection is included by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals as an element of an effective hospital infection control program. We reviewed records of 155 patients autopsied at St. Paul-Ramsey Medical Center between January 1, 1980 and March 31, 1981. In 13 patients (8%), there was a discrepancy between documentation of infection during the patient's hospitalization and at autopsy. However, in none of these cases was this information useful in our infection control program. We doubt the effectiveness of necropsy review as a tool for nosocomial infection control.