# Postmortem Microbiology in Forensic Diagnostics: Interpretation of Infectious Causes of Death and Emerging Applications

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how postmortem microbiology can help determine causes of death when properly interpreted alongside other forensic evidence.

## Contribution

The paper highlights the shift to molecular methods and discusses emerging applications in forensic diagnostics.

## Key findings

- Postmortem microbiology can support cause-of-death determination when integrated with autopsy and contextual data.
- Molecular methods offer advantages but face limitations due to contamination and lack of standardization.
- Emerging applications include postmortem interval estimation and AI-based models, though routine use is still limited.

## Abstract

Background/Objectives: Postmortem microbiology has traditionally been regarded with caution in forensic practice due to concerns related to contamination, bacterial translocation, and postmortem microbial overgrowth. As a result, microbiological findings obtained after death have often been considered unreliable or of limited diagnostic value. However, growing evidence indicates that, when appropriately interpreted and integrated with autopsy findings, histopathology, and circumstantial information, postmortem microbiology can provide crucial support for cause-of-death determination. This narrative review critically examines the current role of postmortem microbiology in forensic diagnostics, with a focus on its diagnostic applications, interpretative challenges, and future perspectives. Methods/Results: The transition from conventional culture-based techniques to molecular approaches—including polymerase chain reaction, microbiome analysis, and metagenomic methods—is discussed, highlighting both their potential advantages and inherent limitations within the forensic setting. Particular attention is devoted to key interpretative issues such as postmortem interval, sampling strategies, contamination, and bacterial translocation. In addition to cause-of-death attribution, emerging applications—including postmortem interval estimation, trace evidence analysis, and artificial intelligence–based models—are reviewed. Although these approaches show promising research potential, their routine forensic applicability remains limited by methodological heterogeneity, lack of standardization, and interpretative complexity. Conclusions: In conclusion, postmortem microbiology represents a valuable diagnostic tool when applied within a multidisciplinary forensic framework. Its effective use requires cautious interpretation and integration with pathological and contextual evidence, avoiding standalone or automated conclusions. Future progress will depend on standardized methodologies, multidisciplinary collaboration, and a clear distinction between experimental research and routine forensic practice.