Management of disposable hospital waste

Abstract

Decades in Argentina and Latin America. Until not long ago, some hospitals incinerated waste, disposed of it as regular trash, or handed it over to urban waste collection services. In the 1990s, concern about the management and disposal of such waste increased as AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) emerged as a healthcare concern. This led to the adoption of laws and decrees regulating the management of such waste and defining standards for its handling inside and outside healthcare facilities. Objective: To determine the management of disposable hospital waste in the surgical department of Hospital Tránsito Cáceres de Allende in Córdoba, from July to December 2021. Methodology: A quantitative, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was conducted in the surgical department. Sample: 21 surgeons across various specialties (general surgery, traumatology, vascular surgery, urology, and head and neck surgery), 12 anesthesiologists, 10 surgical instrumentation technicians, 3 operating room nurses, 3 cleaning staff members, and 1 private company worker, amounting to a total of 50 participants. Results: The waste segregation and storage procedures carried out by surgeons and anesthesiologists indicate that, out of 33 participants, none dispose of food waste or non- recyclable paper into green containers or bags. Similarly, radiographs, reports, and obsolete or unused equipment are not placed in gray containers or bags. 14 out of 26 participants correctly implement the procedure for organic waste and sharps disposal. 3 out of 33 correctly dispose of broken glass. The segregation and storage procedures followed by surgical instrumentation technicians and operating room nurses reveal that, out of a total of 13 participants, none dispose of food waste or non-recyclable paper into green containers or bags. Similarly, radiographs, reports, and obsolete or unused equipment are not placed in gray containers or bags. However, they correctly implement the procedure for organic waste, sharps, and glass waste. Regarding the storage and collection procedures performed by the cleaning staff, 2 out of 3 follow the procedure correctly. The transportation of disposable hospital waste in the surgical department is handled privately by 2 individuals. The final treatment and disposal of waste is the responsibility of one person, who handles incineration and steam autoclave sterilization, but is not responsible for chemical disinfection, sterilization, or inactivation. Conclusion: In the segregation and storage processes, surgeons and anesthesiologists do not dispose of food waste in green containers or bags. Half of them correctly follow the procedure for organic and sharp waste, while only 3 out of 33 properly dispose of broken glass. The results show that surgical instrumentation technicians and operating room nurses mainly dispose of food waste in green containers and bags. They also correctly implement the procedure for organic waste, sharps, and glass waste. Cleaning staff correctly follows the storage and collection procedure. Contaminated items are disposed of in clearly identified containers and bags, separate from regular waste, while adhering to special sanitary and safety measures. Additionally, waste stored in containers, bags, and bins is temporarily held near its point of generation for a short period. The transportation of disposable hospital waste is handled by 2 employees of a private company. The final treatment and disposal of waste is the responsibility of one person, who handles incineration and steam autoclave sterilization, but is not responsible for chemical disinfection, sterilization, or inactivation.