15 September 2023
Characteristics and management of hazardous medical waste with infectious risk
Waste generated in the hospital environment is a particularly sensitive and regulated type, subject to specific regulations.
The regulations provide for the division of medical waste into separate categories, each with specific characteristics and risks.
In this article we will focus on hazardous medical waste with an infectious risk, a sensitive and relevant category in hospital settings and healthcare facilities.
What are infectious hazardous medical wastes?
Hazardous medical waste with an infectious risk is a range of wastes that may contain biological fluids such as blood and various secretions, or that come from environments and patients in infectious isolation. These wastes include items such as gauze, gloves, cannulas, drains, catheters, IVs, and masks.
Healthcare waste at risk of infection also includes those contaminated with infected feces and urine, such as diapers, as well as sharps waste such as needles, blades and syringes.
Characteristics of infectious hazardous medical waste
Infectious hazardous medical wastes have several characteristics that make them extremely dangerous to human health and the environment, some of these characteristics include:
- Potential for transmission of infectious diseases: infectious risk medical waste may contain pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi. If these materials come into contact with unprotected people, they can transmit infectious diseases and cause serious health problems for the individual and the community.
- Cutting and pricking: many objects used in medical settings, such as needles, syringes and scalpels, can penetrate the skin and cause wounds. If these objects are infected, they can quickly spread disease from one person to another.
- Chemical contamination: in addition to biological agents, hazardous medical waste may also contain harmful chemicals used in the processes of treatment and diagnosis. Mishandling of such materials can lead to environmental pollution and damage to individual and community health.
- Long half-life of pathogens: some pathogens can survive for a long time in contaminated material. This means that, if not treated properly, hazardous medical waste can pose a risk for a prolonged period.
Newster's role in the proper management and sterilization of infectious hazardous medical waste
It is clear how this type of waste is extremely dangerous; proper management is essential to avoid problems for the community and the environment.
At Newster, we are a one-stop shop for providing facilities for the management and sterilization of infectious hazardous medical waste. From hospital solid waste management equipment to sanitary wastewater management equipment to liquid laboratory waste facilities, all of our solutions are customized to the specific needs of each hospital or medical facility.
Our facilities for the treatment of infectious hazardous medical waste offer the following advantages:
- improved levels of hospital hygiene and safety;
- elimination of risks from the transportation of infectious waste;
- lower storage and transportation costs due to reduction in weight and volume;
- lower waste disposal costs;
- use of residues as waste-derived fuel (RDF).
Moreover, on a practical level they allow:
- reduction of up to 25% of the initial weight of waste;
- reduction of up to 75% of the initial volume of waste;
- tested sterility for up to 28 days after treatment.
This result is only possible because of the innovative treatment based on friction and sterilization, where at the end of the process hazardous medical waste with infectious risk is converted into undifferentiated municipal waste.
Contact us now for more information!
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