Identification and Preliminary Characterization of Bacterial Isolates from Various sites exposed to embalming fluids at Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science

Experimental Procedure Foam applicators were rubbed on the surface of cadavers following embalming Swabs were then rubbed onto the surface of nutrient agar plates The nutrient agar plates were incubated at room temperature for 48 hours and examined for growth

Result No bacterial isolates were obtained from the embalmed cadavers. A yeast was isolated from the nasal cavity of one cadaver.

Experimental Procedure Foam applicators were rubbed on the inside of the drain pipe and aspirator tube used in the embalming of cadavers Swabs were then rubbed onto the surface of nutrient agar plates The nutrient agar plates were incubated at room temperature for 48 hours and examined for growth

Experimental Procedure Growth was streaked for isolated colonies. Six isolated colonies were chosen for further characterization.

Identification of the Isolates

Gram Stain Procedure

Stenotrophomonas maltophila Ubiquitous in aqueous environments Also found in respiratory and urinary tract Frequently found as a colonizer of endotracheal tubes and central catheters

Sphingomonas paucimoblis Can be found in clinical settings in respiratory therapy items, humidifiers, water, air, bedside water bottles, sinks, and temperature probes Metabolic diversity enables it to use a wide range of organic compounds as energy sources

Citrobacter freundii These bacteria can be found almost everywhere in soil, water, wastewater, etc. It can also be found in the human intestine. They are rarely the source of illnesses, except for infections of the urinary tract and infant meningitis and sepsissoilwaterwastewaterhumanintestineurinary tract infantmeningitis sepsis

Comamonas sp.

Biofilm formation

Resistance to Disinfectants

Kirby Bauer Disc Diffusion Assay

Future Studies Examine Isolates for Antibiotic resistance Examine Isolates Sensitivity to other antimicrobial compounds

Acknowledgements David Hicks – Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science Daniel Hassett - University of Cincinnati College of Medicine