Publication details

Fatal Ingestion of Chlumsky Disinfectant Solution

Authors

HANDLOS Petr UVÍRA Matěj MARECOVÁ Klára STAŇKOVÁ Marie SMATANOVÁ Margita DVOŘÁČEK Igor JOUKAL Marek

Year of publication 2018
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source Journal of Forensic Sciences
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Medicine

Citation
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.13539
Field Other medical specializations
Keywords Camphor; Chlumsky disinfectant solution; Fatal iatrogenic indigestion; Forensic pathology; Forensic science; Phenol; Pregnant woman
Description A 32-year-old pregnant woman in the 25th week of pregnancy underwent oral glucose tolerance screening at the diabetologist's. Later that day, she was found dead in her apartment possibly poisoned with Chlumsky disinfectant solution (solutio phenoli camphorata). An autopsy revealed chemical burns in the digestive system. The lungs and the brain showed signs of severe edema. The blood of the woman and fetus was analyzed using gas chromatography with mass spectrometry and revealed phenol, its metabolites (phenyl glucuronide and phenyl sulfate) and camphor. No ethanol was found in the blood samples. Both phenol and camphor are contained in Chlumsky disinfectant solution, which is used for disinfecting surgical equipment in healthcare facilities. Further investigation revealed that the deceased woman had been accidentally administered a disinfectant instead of a glucose solution by the nurse, which resulted in acute intoxication followed by the death of the pregnant woman and the fetus.

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