Advanced Search
Select up to three search categories and corresponding keywords using the fields to the right. Refer to the Help section for more detailed instructions.

Search our Collections & Repository

All these words:

For very narrow results

This exact word or phrase:

When looking for a specific result

Any of these words:

Best used for discovery & interchangable words

None of these words:

Recommended to be used in conjunction with other fields

Language:

Dates

Publication Date Range:

to

Document Data

Title:

Document Type:

Library

Collection:

Series:

People

Author:

Help
Clear All

Query Builder

Query box

Help
Clear All

For additional assistance using the Custom Query please check out our Help Page

i

Death Scene Investigation and Autopsy Practices in Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths

Filetype[PDF-226.31 KB]


Details Supporting Files You May Also Like

Details:

  • Alternative Title:
    J Pediatr
  • Personal Author:
  • Description:
    Objective

    To describe and compare sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) investigations among states participating in the SUID Case Registry from 2010 through 2012.

    Study design

    We analyzed observational data from 770 SUID cases identified and entered into the National Child Death Review Case Reporting System. We examined data on autopsy and death scene investigation (DSI) components, including key information about the infant sleep environment. We calculated the percentage of components that were complete, incomplete, and missing/unknown.

    Results

    Most cases (98%) had a DSI. The DSI components most frequently reported as done were the narrative description of the circumstances (90%; range, 85%–99%), and witness interviews (88%, range, 85%–98%). Critical information about 10 infant sleep environment components was available for 85% of cases for all states combined. All 770 cases had an autopsy performed. The autopsy components most frequently reported as done were histology, microbiology, and other pathology (98%; range, 94%–100%) and toxicology (97%; range, 94%–100%).

    Conclusions

    This study serves as a baseline to understand the scope of infant death investigations in selected states. Standardized and comprehensive DSI and autopsy practices across jurisdictions and states may increase knowledge about SUID etiology and also lead to an improved understanding of the cause-specific SUID risk and protective factors. Additionally, these results demonstrate practices in the field showing what is feasible in these select states. We encourage pediatricians, forensic pathologists, and other medicolegal experts to use these findings to inform system changes and improvements in DSI and autopsy practices and SUID prevention efforts.

  • Subjects:
  • Source:
    J Pediatr. 174:84-90.e1.
  • Pubmed ID:
    27113380
  • Pubmed Central ID:
    PMC5063238
  • Document Type:
    Journal Article
  • Funding:
    CC999999/Intramural CDC HHS/United States
  • Collection(s):
  • Main Document Checksum:
  • Download URL:
  • File Type:

You May Also Like

Checkout today's featured content at stacks.cdc.gov