PROBLEM STATEMENT –

To Manage Hospital Waste

Presented by –RAHUL TALELEVIT PUNE

To prevent the environment from being a reservoir and vehicle for the spread of microorganism involved in HALs and to guide the handling of contaminated solid and liquid waste material.

PURPOSE

WHAT IS A MEDICAL WASTE?

Definition of Medical WasteMedical waste includes all infectious waste, hazardous (including low-level radioactive wastes), and any other wastes that are generated from all types of health care institutions, including hospitals, clinics, doctor’s (including dental and veterinary) offices and medical laboratories.

WHAT IS A REGULATED MEDICAL WASTE?

Definition of Regulated Medical WasteRegulated Medical Waste is a subset of all medical wastes and include seven distinct categories:1. Cultures and stocks of infectious agents.2. Human pathological wastes (e.g. tissues, body parts)3. Human blood and blood products4. Sharps (e.g. hypodermic needles and syringes)5. Certain animal wastes6. Certain isolation wastes (e.g. wastes from patients with highly communicable diseases)7. Unused sharps.

WHAT IS AN INFECTIOUS WASTE?

EPA categorizes infectious wastes into the following seven categories:1. Isolation wastes – wastes generated by hospitalized patients who are isolated to protect others from communicable diseases.2. Cultures and stocks of infectious agents and associated biological – this category includes: - Specimens from medical and biological laboratories - Cultures and stocks of infectious agents from clinical, research, and industrial laboratories3. Human blood and blood products – this

includes waste blood, serum, plasma, and blood products.

4. Pathological waste – tissues, organs, body parts, blood, and body fluids. 5. Contaminated sharps – contaminated hypodermic needles, syringes, scalpel blades, Pasteur pipettes, and broken glass.6. Contaminated animal carcasses, body parts, and animal bedding 7. Miscellaneous Contaminated Wastes – these include: - Wastes from surgery and autopsy - Miscellaneous laboratory wastes - Dialysis unit wastes - Contaminated equipment

WHAT IS AN INFECTIOUS WASTE?

INFECTIOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS

Components of an Infectious Waste Management Plan: 1. Designation of the waste that should be managed as infectious 2. Segregation of infectious waste from the noninfectious waste3. Packaging4. Storage5. Treatment6. Disposal7. Contingency measures for emergency situations 8. Staff training

DESIGNATION OF AN INFECTIOUS WASTE

The infectious waste plan for your facility should specify which wastes are to be managed as infectious wastes. A responsible official or committee should determine any other miscellaneous wastes should be handled as an infectious waste.

SEGREGATING MEDICAL WASTES

Segregation of infectious wastes at the point of origin. Segregation of infectious waste with multiple hazards as necessary for management and treatment. Use of distinctive, clearly marked containers or plastic bags for infectious wastes. Use of the universal biological hazard symbol on infectious waste containers as appropriate.

PACKAGING INFECTIOUS WASTE Selection of packaging materials that are appropriate for the type of waste handled:

- Plastic bags for many types of solid or semisolid infectious waste. - Bottles, flasks, or tanks for liquids. Use of packaging that maintains its integrity during storage and transport, Closing the top of each bag by folding or tying as appropriate for the treatment or transport Place liquid wastes in capped/ tightly stopped bottles. Do not compact infectious wastes before treatment.

ON-SITE TREATMENTThere are several methods that have been successful in the treatment of infectious waste. The following slides will discuss treatment that may be available at your facility. The methods discussed are:1. Autoclaving (steam sterilization)2. Incineration3. Thermal inactivation4. Gas/Vapor Sterilization5. Chemical Disinfection6. Sterilization by irradiation (radiofrequency and

microwave)

THE IMPORTANCE OF A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT

“I would ask all of us to remember that protecting our environment is about protecting where we live and how we live. Let us join together to protect our health, our economy, and our communities -- so all of us and our children and our grandchildren can enjoy a healthy and a prosperous life.”

THANKS…