The study confirms previous suggestions that the presence of
aeromonads in tissue samples of water bodies can be used as a
marker to aid the diagnosis of death by drowning. The use of ADA
medium formed the basis of a sensitive, inexpensive and quick
screening procedure for the detection of aeromonads in human
tissue samples. To our knowledge, this study is the first to report
the use of bone marrow of the sternum as an alternative matrix and
aseptic sternal puncture as an alternative sampling technique for
the detection of Aeromonas as non-commensal indicator of death
by drowning. The use of genus-specific primers for PCR detection
results in a selective and sensitive confirmation method. Aseptic
sampling techniques remain the most critical step. The possibility
of colonisation of organ tissues with aeromonads during the
immersion in drowning medium and the influence of the body’s
decomposition process needs to be further investigated. Given the
fact that the number of immersed bodies (drowned and nondrowned)
examined is statistically not significant, more tissue
samples need to be investigated to confirm the validity of these
methods for the diagnosis of death by drowning.