The Open Infectious Diseases Journal

2011, 5 : 118-119
Published online 2011 October 26. DOI: 10.2174/1874279301105010118
Publisher ID: TOIDJ-5-118

RESEARCH ARTICLE
 A Return to the Past: The Vital Importance of Autopsies for Infectious Disease Practice in 2011

Francesca Cainelli, * and Mpho Setime
Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Botswana, Private Bag 00713, Gaborone, Botswana.

* Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Botswana, Private Bag 00713, Gaborone, Botswana.Tel: +267.3554563; Fax: +267.3105979; E-mail: francescacainelli@yahoo.it

ABSTRACT

Introduction of clinical guidelines and algorithms, and technical advances in laboratory tests and imaging techniques have apparently improved diagnostic capabilities in infectious diseases substantially in the last three decades, and autopsies and post-mortem studies are seemingly unwarranted in nowadays infectious disease practice. Is this really true?

Keywords:

Infectious diseases, Autopsies, HIV infection, Tuberculosis, Influenza virus infection..