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At least 1,207 records · Page 67Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Evaluation of a mechanical/chemical infectious waste disposal system.

OBJECTIVES: The mechanical/chemical infectious waste disposal system (IWDS), model Z-5000 HC, manufactured by Medical SafeTEC Inc. (Indianapolis, Indiana) was evaluated for its ability to disinfect biomedical waste. METHODS: The IWDS was operated with a sodium hypochlorite solution and tested with loads consisting of microbial cultures and blood. During and after processing, samples of liquid, milled solid waste, and leachate were collected to determine the efficacy of disinfection and the chemical by-products released. An inactivation factor was calculated. Aerosol emission was studied. All tests were done in triplicate. RESULTS: Our results showed the expected level of disinfection (inactivation factor greater than or equal to 5 log10) for all tests carried out with Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis, Candida albicans, and Serratia marcescens, and for most of the tests with Mycobacterium fortuitum and bacteriophages OX174 and f2. Further tests performed in the absence of blood resulted in an inactivation factor greater than or equal to 5 log10 for all tests with M fortuitum, but not for those of the milled solids with bacteriophage f2. Aerosols were found to escape the apparatus when the IWDS was operated in the absence of chlorine. The liquid effluent contained an average of 17,600, and 15 mg/l of free chlorine, chloramines, and trihalomethanes (THM), respectively. The air effluent contained 1.1 mg/m3 of total chlorine and 1.4 micrograms/m3 of THM. CONCLUSIONS: Under our study conditions and except for certain tests with bacteriophage f2, the IWDS reduced the microbial populations tested by a factor of 5 log10. The aerosol dispersion problem remains to be solved, and the significance of the chemical by-products released will require further investigation.

Aerosols↗
PubMed2001

Medical waste and health workers in Gaza governorates.

The study was conducted among health workers in Gaza to identify and highlight the problem of medical waste management. Data were collected through a questionnaire (given to 400 health workers), a checklist and interviews (with 16 decision-makers). Results show that there is no system for medical waste management in Gaza. Segregation is done only for sharps and there are no colour-coded bags. Medical waste is stored and disposed of with domestic waste in primary health care clinics and is incinerated in hospitals, but there are no emission control or safety measures. There are some gaps in knowledge of health care workers, and current practices are inadequate. However there is generally a positive attitude to improving medical waste management among those surveyed and interviewed. A national programme for medical waste management is essential in Palestine.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1992

Hospitals use alternative off-site methods.

More stringent state regulations on incinerating and autoclaving infectious medical waste on site, coupled with the high costs involved with having the waste hauled off site to be incinerated, is causing hospitals to look at alternative off-site disposal.

Contract Services↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Infectious medical waste management. A home care responsibility.

With the proliferation of bloodborne diseases in the United States, more attention is being focused on the issues of infectious medical waste and its disposal. Home care organizations must be aware of the potential risks involved in handling infectious wastes, and adhere to industry standards of disposal and transport. Education of staff, patients, and community about the management of infectious waste is crucial in today's healthcare arena.

Community Health Nursing↗
PubMed1998

Biosafety considerations in handling medically important fungi.

Over 500,000 workers in the USA alone are employed in laboratories that range from small physician offices to large clinical laboratories handling microbes for comprehensive research and/or diagnostic work. These workers are exposed to a variety of potential occupational health risks such as exposure to infectious clinical materials, environmental specimens, cultures, complex and inflammable chemicals, radiation, and electrical and mechanical hazards. As members of the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology, we have no policy statement on biosafety standards for handling medically important fungi. The intent of the symposium is to cover some of the important aspects of biosafety; (1) standards in handling dimorphic fungal pathogens; (2) the principles and criteria of biosafety levels and classification of known medically important fungi, aerobic actinomycetes, environmental fungi according to their biosafety levels; (3) medically important fungal waste and its safe disposal; and (4) biosafety and regulatory considerations in handling and mailing medically important fungi in a culture collection.

Animals↗