TY - JOUR
T1 - Safe management of bodies of deceased persons with suspected or confirmed COVID-19
T2 - A rapid systematic review
AU - Yaacoub, Sally
AU - Schünemann, Holger J.
AU - Khabsa, Joanne
AU - El-Harakeh, Amena
AU - Khamis, Assem M.
AU - Chamseddine, Fatimah
AU - El Khoury, Rayane
AU - Saad, Zahra
AU - Hneiny, Layal
AU - Cuello Garcia, Carlos
AU - Muti-Schünemann, Giovanna Elsa Ute
AU - Bognanni, Antonio
AU - Chen, Chen
AU - Chen, Guang
AU - Zhang, Yuan
AU - Zhao, Hong
AU - Abi Hanna, Pierre
AU - Loeb, Mark
AU - Piggott, Thomas
AU - Reinap, Marge
AU - Rizk, Nesrine
AU - Stalteri, Rosa
AU - Duda, Stephanie
AU - Solo, Karla
AU - Chu, Derek K.
AU - Akl, Elie A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.
PY - 2020/5/14
Y1 - 2020/5/14
N2 - Introduction Proper strategies to minimise the risk of infection in individuals handling the bodies of deceased persons infected with 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) are urgently needed. The objective of this study was to systematically review the literature to scope and assess the effects of specific strategies for the management of the bodies. Methods We searched five general, three Chinese and four coronavirus disease (COVID-19)-specific electronic databases. We searched registries of clinical trials, websites of governmental and other relevant organisations, reference lists of the included papers and relevant systematic reviews, and Epistemonikos for relevant systematic reviews. We included guidance documents providing practical advice on the handling of bodies of deceased persons with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. Then, we sought primary evidence of any study design reporting on the efficacy and safety of the identified strategies in coronaviruses. We included evidence relevant to contextual factors (ie, acceptability). A single reviewer extracted data using a pilot-tested form and graded the certainty of the evidence using the GRADE approach. A second reviewer verified the data and assessments. Results We identified one study proposing an uncommon strategy for autopsies for patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome. The study provided very low-certainty evidence that it reduced the risk of transmission. We identified 23 guidance documents providing practical advice on the steps of handling the bodies: preparation, packing, and others and advice related to both the handling of the dead bodies and the use of personal protective equipment by individuals handling them. We did not identify COVID-19 evidence relevant to any of these steps. Conclusion While a substantive number of guidance documents propose specific strategies, we identified no study providing direct evidence for the effects of any of those strategies. While this review highlights major research gaps, it allows interested entities to build their own guidance.
AB - Introduction Proper strategies to minimise the risk of infection in individuals handling the bodies of deceased persons infected with 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) are urgently needed. The objective of this study was to systematically review the literature to scope and assess the effects of specific strategies for the management of the bodies. Methods We searched five general, three Chinese and four coronavirus disease (COVID-19)-specific electronic databases. We searched registries of clinical trials, websites of governmental and other relevant organisations, reference lists of the included papers and relevant systematic reviews, and Epistemonikos for relevant systematic reviews. We included guidance documents providing practical advice on the handling of bodies of deceased persons with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. Then, we sought primary evidence of any study design reporting on the efficacy and safety of the identified strategies in coronaviruses. We included evidence relevant to contextual factors (ie, acceptability). A single reviewer extracted data using a pilot-tested form and graded the certainty of the evidence using the GRADE approach. A second reviewer verified the data and assessments. Results We identified one study proposing an uncommon strategy for autopsies for patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome. The study provided very low-certainty evidence that it reduced the risk of transmission. We identified 23 guidance documents providing practical advice on the steps of handling the bodies: preparation, packing, and others and advice related to both the handling of the dead bodies and the use of personal protective equipment by individuals handling them. We did not identify COVID-19 evidence relevant to any of these steps. Conclusion While a substantive number of guidance documents propose specific strategies, we identified no study providing direct evidence for the effects of any of those strategies. While this review highlights major research gaps, it allows interested entities to build their own guidance.
KW - prevention strategies
KW - public health
KW - respiratory infections
KW - systematic review
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85085185337
U2 - 10.1136/bmjgh-2020-002650
DO - 10.1136/bmjgh-2020-002650
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85085185337
SN - 2059-7908
VL - 5
JO - BMJ Global Health
JF - BMJ Global Health
IS - 5
M1 - e002650
ER -