{"title":"Ethanol production in the gut: An autopsy case.","authors":"Maiko Kusano, Chikara Kohda, Masaya Fujishiro, Taka-Aki Matsuyama","doi":"10.1093/jat/bkaf039","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Postmortem alcohol production by microorganisms has been known to increase blood alcohol concentration, potentially leading to erroneous interpretation. Here, we present a peculiar case where postmortem toxicology detected a high ethanol concentration only in the stomach content. An 87-year-old bedridden female was taken to senior day care facility, where the nurse attempted to take her vitals but noticed she was not breathing. The facility called for an ambulance but she was pronounced dead soon after arriving at the hospital. She was found to be severely dehydrated and her blood tests indicated poor health. Autopsy was performed two days after death, and postmortem alcohol analysis detected a high ethanol concentration only in the stomach content. Our aim was to investigate the causative agent of ethanol production; microbiological analysis identified the yeast species Candida glabrata as the responsible microorganism.</p>","PeriodicalId":14905,"journal":{"name":"Journal of analytical toxicology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3000,"publicationDate":"2025-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of analytical toxicology","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1093/jat/bkaf039","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"CHEMISTRY, ANALYTICAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Postmortem alcohol production by microorganisms has been known to increase blood alcohol concentration, potentially leading to erroneous interpretation. Here, we present a peculiar case where postmortem toxicology detected a high ethanol concentration only in the stomach content. An 87-year-old bedridden female was taken to senior day care facility, where the nurse attempted to take her vitals but noticed she was not breathing. The facility called for an ambulance but she was pronounced dead soon after arriving at the hospital. She was found to be severely dehydrated and her blood tests indicated poor health. Autopsy was performed two days after death, and postmortem alcohol analysis detected a high ethanol concentration only in the stomach content. Our aim was to investigate the causative agent of ethanol production; microbiological analysis identified the yeast species Candida glabrata as the responsible microorganism.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Analytical Toxicology (JAT) is an international toxicology journal devoted to the timely dissemination of scientific communications concerning potentially toxic substances and drug identification, isolation, and quantitation.
Since its inception in 1977, the Journal of Analytical Toxicology has striven to present state-of-the-art techniques used in toxicology labs. The peer-review process provided by the distinguished members of the Editorial Advisory Board ensures the high-quality and integrity of articles published in the Journal of Analytical Toxicology. Timely presentation of the latest toxicology developments is ensured through Technical Notes, Case Reports, and Letters to the Editor.