Fatal Ingestion of Chlumsky Disinfectant Solution
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2018 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Journal of Forensic Sciences |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| 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. |