Postmortem Microbial Analysis of Vitreous Humour to Differentiate Antemortem Alcohol Consumption from Neoformation in RTA Victims: An Autopsy-Based Study in Nairobi, Kenya

This study aims to differentiate ethanol resulting from true alcohol consumption and ethanol synthesized postmortem by microorganisms in forensic cases. The research was conducted using vitreous humour (VH) samples from 100 road traffic accident (RTA) fatalities at the City Mortuary in Nairobi, Kenya, with a postmortem interval (PMI) ranging from 12 to 72 hours. Ethanol concentrations were quantified using validated forensic toxicological protocols, and microbial isolates were categorized based on their potential to produce ethanol.
Of the 100 samples, 21% tested positive for ethanol. Among these, 50% showed microbial growth, with Klebsiella spp. and Clostridium spp. being the most frequent microbial isolates in ethanol-positive cases. Both of these microorganisms are known to produce ethanol through fermentation. These findings underscore the importance of integrating toxicological and microbiological analyses to differentiate between ethanol from antemortem consumption and postmortem microbial synthesis.

Microbial contamination, Vitreous Humour, Alcohol

1. Boumba, V. A., Ziavrou, K. S., & Vougiouklakis, T. (2008). Postmortem formation of ethanol: mechanisms and forensic importance. Forensic Science International, 174(1), 1–9. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Gottschalk, C., et al. (2011). Volatile organic compounds produced in postmortem microbial activity. Forensic Science International, 207(1), 40-46. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Miettinen, H., & Pounder, D. J. (1995). The role of microorganisms in postmortem alcohol synthesis. Forensic Science International, 74(2), 85–94. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Muriuki, P., Njeru, J., & Mutua, M. (2018). Postmortem ethanol formation risks in tropical forensic contexts. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 63(5), 1341–1347. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Kuntzmann, R., et al. (2020). Comparative evaluation of ethanol and EtG/EtS in vitreous humour and urine in autopsy cases. Journal of Forensic Science, 65(3), 658–664. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Pope, C., & Henssge, C. (1995). Postmortem ethanol production. Forensic Science International, 70(2), 99–103. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Boumba, V. A., et al. (2024). Microbial ethanol production in vitreous humour. Forensic Science International, 340, 145-151. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Smith, A., et al. (2013). Case report: Candida and urinary ethanol formation. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 58(4), 1056–1060. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Al-Al-Quran, S., et al. (2020). Postmortem ethanol and ethyl sulfate levels: an analysis of forensic cases. Forensic Science International, 309, 110193. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Boumba, V. A., et al. (2008). Postmortem ethanol synthesis by Klebsiella spp. and other fermentative microorganisms. Forensic Science International, 178(2-3), 153-160. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Boumba, V. A., et al. (2022). Microbial contamination and ethanol production in African forensic cases. African Journal of Forensic Medicine, 23(4), 56-64. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Diac, S., et al. (2022). Postmortem microbiology and the role of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in forensic autopsies. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 67(1), 87-95. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Miettinen, P., & Pounder, D. (1995). Microbial factors in postmortem ethanol production. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 40(6), 1052-1057. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Muriuki, A., et al. (2018). The role of Candida albicans in postmortem ethanol formation in Kenya. East African Journal of Forensic Medicine, 21(3), 45-51. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Smith, G., et al. (2019). Ethanol production by Staphylococcus aureus in postmortem samples. Journal of Forensic Microbiology, 34(2), 112-119. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Velivasi, P., et al. (2021). Postmortem ethanol neoformation and microbial interactions: A comprehensive review. Forensic Science International, 318, 110696. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Treasure of 6th Edition of Organon of Medicine- Lm Potency
• Neurobehavioral and Immune-Histochemical Effects of Daucus Carota Ethanolic Leaf Extract in Cadmium-Induced Toxicity of the Hippocampus and Prefrontal Cortex of Adult Wistar Rats
• Unveiling the Antimicrobial Potential of Homoeopathic Sarcode and Bowel Nosode: A Study on Histaminum and Dysenteriae Co against Escherichia Coli And Klebsiella Bacteria
• Incidence of Cardiovascular Events in Patients Receiving Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) in HCTM – (A Retrospective Cohort Study)
• A Prospective Case Study Examining the Effectiveness of Homoeopathic Medicine in Treating Degenerative Changes in the Lumbar Spine-A Case Report