Introduction to Hospital Infectious Materials Waste Management

Incineration is the method of choice for treating large volumes of infectious waste, animal carcasses, and contaminated bedding materials. Because incinerators usually are located some distance from the laboratory, additional precautions for handling and packaging of infectious waste are necessary.
Types of Biomedical Waste Disposal
Autoclaving. The process of autoclaving involves steam sterilization. ...
Incineration. The major benefits of incineration are that it is quick, easy, and simple. ...
Chemicals. When it comes to liquid waste, a common biomedical waste disposal method can be chemical disinfection. ...
Microwaving.

1. LECTURE 1 Introduction to the Management of Infectious Materials/Waste Amjad Khan Afridi

2. What is Infectious Medical Waste Infectious Medical Waste is defined as medical waste capable of producing an infectious disease . Waste is considered Infectious when it is: Contaminated by an organism that is pathogenic to healthy humans; The organism is not routinely available in the environment; and The organism is in significant quantity and virulence to transmit disease.

3. Infectious Wastes Specifically Are; Blood and blood products in a free flowing, unabsorbed state; Contaminated sharps, Isolation Wastes, Laboratory wastes, and Unfixed pathological tissues

4. Infectious Laboratory Wastes Cultures Etiological agents (those microorganisms and microbial toxins that cause disease in humans) Specimens Stocks Related contaminated wastes Vaccine vials Gowns Cotton/gloves contaminated with body fluid Masks

5. Pathological Wastes Pathological materials are often infectious  and require specific procedures to ensure safe disposal. Fixed Pathological wastes are not Infectious Medical Waste Unfixed Pathological wastes must be incinerated wastes containing pathological items must be appropriately labeled to ensure they are incinerated

6. Infectious Isolation Wastes Wastes generated from the care of a patient who has or is suspected of having a disease caused by a CDC Class 4 agent, listed below Smallpox is caused by the  Variola virus (VARV) . There are two forms of the virus. The more dangerous form, variola major, led to smallpox disease that killed about 30% of people who were infected. Variola minor caused a less  deadly  type that killed about 1% of those who got it. Monkey pox begins with  fever ,  headache ,  muscle aches , and fatigue . The main difference between symptoms of smallpox and monkeypox is that monkeypox causes lymph nodes to swell (lymphadenopathy) while smallpox does not.

7. Cont … 3. Hemorrhagic fever agents, including Crimean hemorrhagic fever (Congo), Junin , and Machupo viruses.  They affect many organs, damage the blood vessels, and they affect the body's ability to regulate itself. 4. Lassa virus also known as  Lassa  hemorrhagic fever  (LHF), is a type of  viral  hemorrhagic  fever. Many of those infected by the  virus  do not develop symptoms. When symptoms occur they typically include  fever , weakness, headaches, vomiting, and muscle pains. 5. Marburg virus an acute, often fatal, form of haemorrhagic fever. It is caused by a filovirus (  Marburg virus  ) which normally lives in African monkeys.

8. Other Potentially Infectious Material (OPIM) Any body fluid with visible blood 1. Cerebrospinal fluid is clear, colorless liquid that fills and surrounds the brain and the spinal cord and provides a mechanical barrier against shock 2. Pericardial fluid  is excess fluid between the heart and the sac surrounding the heart, known as the pericardium 3. Peritoneal fluid  is a liquid made in the abdominal cavity which lubricates the surface of tissue that lines the abdominal wall and pelvic cavity

9. Cont … 4. Pleural fluid  is an unusual amount of fluid around the lung 5. Saliva in dental procedures 6. Synovial fluid Synovial fluid is produced in the spaces between certain joints to help reduce friction and facilitate movement between articular cartilages Anywhere body fluids are indistinguishable

10. Infectious Wastes Do Not Include Human remains and body parts being used for medical purposes, under the control of a licensed doctor or dentist Human remains lawfully interred in a cemetery or in preparation for interment (material that has been  disposed  of in the ground but is not as large or regulated as a landfill. A good portion of  waste  materials can break down in the ground but some can be harmful). Hair, nails, and extracted teeth

11. Collection of Infectious Waste Infectious medical wastes must be collected at the point of generation in the appropriate color coded bags 1. Orange bags for autoclaved waste, 2. Red bags for all other treatment methods Biohazard bags must be labeled with the international biohazard symbol and appropriate wording; “ biohazard ,” “ biomedical waste ,” “ infectious medical waste ,” or “ regulated medical waste ”

12. Sharps Must be collected at the point of generation, in a leak-proof and puncture-resistant container Containers must bear the international biohazard symbol and appropriate wording Containers should never be completely filled, nor filled above the full line indicated on box.

13. Liquid Infectious Medical Wastes

14. Liquid Infectious Medical Wastes Autoclaving. The process of autoclaving involves steam sterilization. Incineration. The major benefits of incineration are that it is quick, easy, and simple. Chemicals. When it comes to liquid waste, a common biomedical waste disposal method can be chemical disinfection. Microwaving. Liquid Infectious Medical Waste, i.e., the contents of suction canisters, may be disposed of in several ways:

15. Packaging and Storage Wastes shall be collected in a lined, cardboard box or reusable plastic container that is labeled with the biohazard symbol and appropriate wording. Once the box or container is full, the bag lining it must be sealed and the container then sealed locked Boxes must be labeled with facility name, address, phone and fax numbers, and the date A full, sealed container can be stored on site for no more than 30 days

16. Shipping and Manifests Every load of waste shipped off-site for destruction is tracked using a manifest system The manifest is a multiple copy document that accompanies the waste to the treatment facility Every individual who takes possession of the waste, including someone from your facility, must sign the manifest As the waste generator is responsible for the waste until we receive the proof-of-destruction copy of the manifest

17. Over Classification The improper disposal of solid wastes that do not meet the definition of infectious medical waste, as if they were infectious It is the most commonly cited violation, with 98% of permitted facilities being marked

18. Routinely Over Classified Items Paper towels Unsaturated dressings and chucks Wrappers and packaging IV bags and oxygen tubing Gloves with no visible contamination Urine catheters and bags Paper, newspapers, and food containers Urine cups and specimen containers with no visible blood Empty Medication vials and broken glass

19. When you mix infectious waste and regular solid waste together, you are not permitted to separate them Once combined, the entire contents are considered infectious waste!

20. Be a Professional 21/03/2023