18. INFECTION CONTROL IN HANDLING OF HUMAN REMAINS OF SARS PATIENTS

It is recommended that suspected SARS patients who die be autopsied by the designated SARS referral hospitals provided all infection control procedures be followed.

· As soon as a SARS patient expires, the body must be wrapped in linen and put into a body bag.

· For autopsies and postmortem assessment of SARS patients, all personnel involved in the procedure should wear protective garments: surgical scrub suit, surgical cap, gown with full sleeve coverage, eye protection, shoe cover, double surgical gloves and N95 masks.

· Embalming of the remains of a SARS case MUST NOT BE DONE.

· Ideally, the remains of a SARS patient should be cremated. If this is not possible, the remains must be put in a durable, airtight and sealed coffin for immediate burial.

The body can be put in cold storage at -70 degrees centigrade.