scholarly journals Medical waste management during coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic at the city level

Author(s):  
E. G. Polat
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 42-48
Author(s):  
Urvashi Mishra ◽  
Sarjoo Patel ◽  
Kushan Shah

The increased number of hospitals with rising number of beds generate about 1.5 to 2 kg waste per day and per bed. This gives an insight about the volumes of waste generated from the government and private sector hospitals per day. Therefore, the hospital waste management is of utmost importance in the present public health scenario, where the occurrence and recurrence of the infectious diseases is a major public threat. The objective of this research was to find out how hospitals can benefit from improving medical waste management practices. In the questionnaire, survey questions were formulated for gathering data. The questionnaire was designed in such a way that it can provide general information about the hospital staff along with their knowledge about the medical waste and their concern regarding the waste disposal-training program. It was found that the importance was being laid on proper waste disposal only and much less focus was given on waste minimization and recycling of the waste. The study has found that the city can benefit both environmentally and economically by improving the medical waste management at different hospitals.


2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 328-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hassan Taghipour ◽  
Mohammad Mosaferi

This article presents the results of a descriptive cross-sectional study on medical waste management in Tabriz (Iran's fourth largest city). The study was conducted in 10 of 25 active hospitals of the city in the summer of 2007. The methodology of the present study was based on data collected from hospitals through a checklist, site visits (observation), and quantity analysis by weight. The results indicated that more than 13.59 tonnes day—1 of total medical waste and 4.06 tonnes day—1 of hazardous-infectious medical waste are generated by the active hospitals of the city. Currently, there are no practical instructions, or suitable supervision on different levels of waste management. The health authorities and hospital managers do not accept sufficient responsibility for the medical waste due to financial problems and the lack of awareness regarding the hazards of medical waste. Segregation and minimization of waste are not carried out correctly in any of the hospitals. The use of protective measures by staff and temporary storage areas was not in agreement with standards in 70 and 60% of the hospitals in the present study, respectively. About 50% of the hospitals had been equipped with an incinerator, but all but one (10%) of them had been phased out due to operation and maintenance problems, air pollution, etc. Almost all of the hospitals have a waste management officer, but there is not an effective training programme for the staff. Infectious-hazardous medical waste is mixed with general waste, and it is disposed of in a municipal waste landfill, which is an unsanitary dumpsite. Illegal segregation and recycling of medical waste is carried out at the final disposal site; therefore, there are concerns about environmental pollution and the transmission of infectious diseases. It is proposed that, through the allocation of increased budgets, implementation of integrated segregation, minimization of waste, and creation of a training programme in the hospitals, the quantity of medical waste would be decreased (by about 70.11%). Considering the previous unsuccessful experience of on-site incineration in Tabriz (and in Iran's other large cites), an amendment should be made to Iran's current hazardous waste regulations to have infectious-hazardous waste sent to a central off-site autoclave or incinerator for treatment. The off-site autoclave would have some advantages, such as decreased air pollution. Of course, some health officials oppose this plan. To test this plan and receive the official's approval, a central off-site autoclave can be put into practice as a pilot.


2016 ◽  
pp. 101-108
Author(s):  
Duy Tao Tran ◽  
Trong Si Hoang

Objective: Monitoring and evaluation of air environmental quality, waste water and medical waste management activities in some hospitals in the Central Highlands. Research Methodology: Cross-sectional descriptive survey was deployed in 6 provincial hospitals of the Central Highlands in 7th- 8th months every year for 3 years, 2011, 2012, 2013. Observing the process of waste management in hospitals, weighing the medical solid waste generated daily, sampling and environmental monitoring of air, water waste samples after treatment of hospitals. Findings: The percentage of substandard sample of radioactive 2011 was 5.88%, in 2012 was 5%, 2013 was 0.02%. Mainly in dose laboratories, rinse the nuclear medicine department, hatch covers radioactive waste storage. 100% of the air sample of wastewater treatment areas have NO2 target and 60% of SO2 target sample have not reached allowed regulations. The atmosphere at the garbage area hospitals in Kon Tum and Lam Dong provinces through 2 years of monitoring in 2012, 2013 exceeded SO2 target standards. Monitoring results incinerator emissions sample at 3 hospitals: Kontum, Gia Lai, Dak Nong in 3 years reached Regulations allow. The observation sample treated waste water of the hospital in 2013 with low contamination rate than in 2011 and 2012 in terms of physics and chemistry. Particularly criteria Total coliforms 3 years are from 40-50% of samples exceeded standards. Regarding waste management, the results of monitoring in 2013 showed that 60% of faculties have sharps instruments and 20% of the faculties have satisfactory utensils anatomical waste. 59.48% of the faculties have the guidelines for waste separation. Condition misclassified not many and occur in two hospitals Gia Lai, Dak Lak. Only Lam Dong hospitals have waste transportation vehicles secured closed during transport. The amount of waste / beds / 24 hours is 1.097kg. In particular infectious waste is 0.26kg. Only two hospitals in Daklak, Lam Dong has generated radioactive waste with a total of 0.9 kg/day. Key words: Medical waste, medical waste management.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olaniyi FC ◽  
Ogola JS ◽  
Tshitangano TG

Background:Poor medical waste management has been implicated in an increase in the number of epidemics and waste-related diseases in the past years. South Africa is resource-constrained in the management of medical waste.Objectives:A review of studies regarding medical waste management in South Africa in the past decade was undertaken to explore the practices of medical waste management and the challenges being faced by stakeholders.Method:Published articles, South African government documents, reports of hospital surveys, unpublished theses and dissertations were consulted, analysed and synthesised. The studies employed quantitative, qualitative and mixed research methods and documented comparable results from all provinces.Results:The absence of a national policy to guide the medical waste management practice in the provinces was identified as the principal problem. Poor practices were reported across the country from the point of medical waste generation to disposal, as well as non-enforcement of guidelines in the provinces where they exit. The authorized disposal sites nationally are currently unable to cope with the enormous amount of the medical waste being generated and illegal dumping of the waste in unapproved sites have been reported. The challenges range from lack of adequate facilities for temporary storage of waste to final disposal.Conclusion:These challenges must be addressed and the practices corrected to forestall the adverse effects of poorly managed medical waste on the country. There is a need to develop a medical waste policy to assist in the management of such waste.


2021 ◽  
Vol 790 (1) ◽  
pp. 012032
Author(s):  
Ahmed Mahmoud Falih ◽  
Mohammed K. Al Kasser ◽  
Mukhtar Dhajir Abbas ◽  
Hiba Abbas Ali

2009 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 445-448 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehmet Emin Birpınar ◽  
Mehmet Sinan Bilgili ◽  
Tuğba Erdoğan

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-150
Author(s):  
Sarko Masood Mohammed ◽  
Nasih Othman ◽  
Ali Hattem Hussein ◽  
Kamal Jalal Rashid

Medical waste management is of crucial importance in health care facilities (HCF). In the present study, we assessed the knowledge, attitude and practices of medical waste management in an HCF of Sulaimani city, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Using a self-administered questionnaire, we collected information on waste management practices from health care professionals (HCP) in 14 public and private hospitals and 10 primary health care centers of the city. Based on answers, total knowledge score on a 10-point scale was established. A total of 406 HCPs (of those, 261 women), average age 37.3 (SD ± 9.4) years participated. Just 20.3% have been trained on medical waste management. The total knowledge score ranged from 0 to 9 with a mean of 4.7 (SD ± 1.8).  Factors which were significantly associated with the better knowledge score was male gender, having a high educational degree, being trained in waste management and has been in service for more than 5 years. 68% of HCPs followed the color coding system, 91% always/frequently disposed used sharps/needles to safety boxes, 79% always or frequently recapped needles, 49% reported experiencing at least one needle prick injury during their work but only 37% of them had reported the injury to a supervisor and only 4% of those injured had filled an injury form. There is a low average level of knowledge and the unsafe risky practices are quite prevalent in HCFs. Provision of appropriate training on dealing with medical waste is essential to promote safe practices among HCFs.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document