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The following document is based on the current knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 and the related disease (COVID-19). The Italian Institute of Health (ISS) is monitoring the virus spread throughout the country through daily reports sent by individual regions and regional reference laboratories. The diagnosis of infection is based on the use of standardized and validated molecular tests for the search for viral RNA in different sets of biological samples, from patients suspected of having contracted the infection. This document provides a specific guidance for the collection and storage of biological samples from deceased persons. It also provides recommendations on safety practices to be adopted during both collection and handling of specimens, and during autopsy procedures. With regard autopsy, it is recommended to follow the procedures for the execution of diagnostic findings in patients died with SARS-CoV-2 infection issued by ISS Working Group on Causes of Death from COVID-19, published on March 27, 2020.

We analyzed bloodstream infection(BI) performed in eight hospitals in Region Lombardia in the period 1999- 2001 following criteria and methods as in the study performed in the year 1997.Data were evaluated from 434.000 hospital patients (one third of hospital patients annualy recovered in Lombardia Region each year). Of these 56.3 positive blood coltures /1000 patients were observed. Data were similar as 1997. In total 3063 episodes of bacteriemia were observed (6.98 BI / 1000 hospital patients).53% of cases correlated to hospital infection. Organism identification of causative organisms resulted 22.5% for E.coli and 10.6% for KES; 17.7% S.aureus,4.5% Yeast .Anaerobic bacteria resulted involved in 3.4%.Among the frequency of isolates difference was noted in different wards In intensive care unit E.coli was pathogenic in 5.9% of patients, but KES in 25.5% of cases. Differences were noted if nosocomial or comunity infections were involved. It was concluded that epidemiological data of BI from all the hospital of Region Lombardia could support the knowledge of bacteriemic episodes in different wards as useful method of surveillance particularly in order to control economic aspects and efficacy of prevention.