The role of intestinal bacterial heat production in confounding postmortem temperature measurements.
To assess the influence of anaerobic bacterial heat production in human stools as a confounding factor in postmortem rectal temperature measurements, in vitro experiments were carried out with human stools incubated at 37 degrees C for 6 h and at decreasing temperatures simulating a postmortem body cooling. Although a statistical significant heat production was observed, it was not relevant enough to explain a postmortem temperature plateau or a substantial rise in the postmortem body temperature. The experiments suggest that stools merely reflect the environmental thermal changes rather than producing bias and confounding by a bacterial heat production.
Hooft
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P
Catholic University of Leuven, Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Belgium.
van de Voorde
H
H
D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology; D011180:Postmortem Changes