Assessment of hospitals medical waste management in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province in Iran

Abstract

The hospital wastes could threaten the surface waters, ground waters, soil, air environment and humans’ health. This study was intended to investigate the management of medical waste generated in hospitals of Charharmahal and Bakhtiari province, located in south west of Iran. The samples came from all 9 province’s hospitals with 1156 beds. The data forms and questionnaires were completed. The questionnaire contained questions about the generation of waste and practices related to separation, collection, storage, transport, treatment and final disposal, and training and awareness. The highest generation rate on a bed basis of 3.22±0.4 kg/bed/day was found in Shohada hospital, and the lowest rate was 1.37±0.2 kg/bed/day for Sina hospital. There was significant variation (P<0.05). The average general waste production rate was 2.12±0.37 kg/bed/day at all the surveyed hospitals. The highest percentage (63%) of total medical wastes were general, 36.05% were infectious wastes. About 44.44% of the hospitals have used autoclave to disinfect their infectious medical waste prior to disposal, while incineration is used in 33.33% of the hospitals. All hospitals (100%) indicated their needs and willingness to participate in future specialized training programs in medical waste management. It has been suggested that enhancing the education, awareness and promoting programs about medical waste management for cleaning workers, doctors, nurses, and technicians.

Efficiency Evaluation of Hospitals Sterilization by Biological and Chemical Methods

“…The average health-care waste generation in Shahrekord hospitals is 900 to1000 kg/day.Total medical solid waste were 63% general,36.05% were infectious wastes while 0.18% were sharps, 0.1% were chemical and pharmaceuticals, 0.1% were pathological wastes,0.02% were radioactive.The composition of the generated waste was found to be 16.6±1.44% paper, 18.8±2.35 % plastic, 4.9±0.27% glass, 16.5±1.01 % textile , 0.87±0.03% metals, 24.7±2.35% foodwaste,and 17.63±1.91% other ( Sadeghi et al 2020).…”

“…The average general waste production rate was 2.12±0.37 kg/bed/day at Shahrekord hospitals (Sadeghi et al 2020).According to other studies, amount of medical solid waste generation in Iranian hospitals is between 1.92 to 4.4 Kg/bed-day and 10.5% to 34.5% are infectious wastes (Farshad et al 2014;Hossain et al 2012). Solid waste production per capita in other countries such as Barzil, Jordon, France, Spain and Portugal is 2.63, 3.41, 2.5, 3 and 1.4 Kg/bed-day respectively, which 85% of this is nonhazardous and remaining 15% is hazardous (Farshad et al 2014;Miranzadeh et al 2012).…”

“…Disadvantages of incinerator are high initial cost, air pollution, , operation and maintenance problems and the need of trained personnel for operation. For this reasons, incinerator is discarded) Miranzadeh et al2012;Sadeghi et al 2020(. Recently health, cure and medical education administration suggest application of steam autoclaves for immunization of hospital infectious wastes, so several cases of this set was installed in hospitals of Iran.…”

Viral Inactivation with Emphasis on SARS-CoV-2 Using Physical and Chemical Disinfectants

“…Though respiratory pathogens, such as flu, spread through airborne dispersion of small particle aerosols (≤5 μ m) generated by breathing, coughing, or sneezing of an infected person, respiratory syncytial viruses, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV can be transmitted via large droplets blown through the air into the eyes, nose, and mouth in a short distance [ 4 , 5 ]. A variety of disinfectants such as sodium hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide, alcohols, povidone-iodine, or glutardialdehyde, ultraviolet radiation, and dry heat or moist heat are used across the world for disinfection, mainly in hospitals [ 6 , 7 ].…”

Can ventilation in healthcare facilities prevention of infection COVID-19?

“…Initially, COVID-19 that begun at the end of 2019 has turned into a pandemic [1]. According to the evidence, its main ways of transmission are person-to-person and viral droplets (> 5-10 µm in diameter) of infected patients, or sings at short distances, commonly < 1-2 m. However, there are doubts about its transmission through (<5 µm in diameter), remaining infectious when suspended in the air over long distances and time [2,3]. It worth noting that personal hygiene and avoiding infected surfaces is of crucial importance.Ventilation is a principal infectious disease prevention method in health care centers and other facilities [4], using a suitable HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system could be mitigated virulence of SARS-CoV-2.…”