Generation of infectious waste during the COVID-19 pandemic: The case of a Brazilian hospital

Abstract

Coronavirus-19 disease (COVID-19) acquired pandemic status in March 2020. The new virus has caused serious implications in the healthcare services management, including several sectors, among them the generation of waste. Healthcare wastes (HCW) generation increased along pandemic representing a health problem due to potentially infected ones. From this perspective, the study sought to analyse the challenges and changes imposed by COVID-19 in the HCW management in a large public hospital from Brazil. For this purpose, data about the Contingency Plan prepared by the hospital and HCW generation from 2017 to 2020 were used, analysed by statistical methods. When dealing with the Contingency Plan, the Brazilian hospital adopted measures similar to other hospitals around the world as described by the literature, such as: adoption of new protocols, specific team assigned to manage actions and training of professionals and suspension of elective surgeries. Regarding the generation of HCW, there was a significant increase in the mass of biological waste with a high risk of infection. The waste of this group increased from March 2020, coinciding with the start of care for the patients infected by COVID-19. The contribution of this type of waste to total generation jumped from approximately 0.2% in previous years to almost 5% in 2020. In addition, a reduction in the average of total waste generated in kilogrammes per bed per day from 2017 to 2019 was indicated compared to the 2020. COVID-19 pandemic led to major challenges for hospitals that had to care for patients infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, including new protocols, changing the work shifts and training the teams in the new procedures. The biological waste with a high risk of infectiousness also increased 30 times.

Comparison Of Covid-19 Medical Waste Management Strategies For Hospitals In Developed And Developing Country

“…The steps taken by the Hospital in Brazil are also similar to other hospitals around the world, namely: the implementation of new protocols, a special team assigned to manage the action, and professional training. Total medical waste generation in Brazilian hospitals will increase to almost 5% by 2020 (Martins et al, 2021). However, on the other hand, research by Andreza de Aguiar Hugo and Renato da Silva Lima (2021), states that some hospitals have not made the management of medical waste a priority.…”

Impacts and Regulations of Healthcare Solid Waste Management during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review

“…In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a notable estimation that hospitals, clinics, and healthcare centers have emerged as primary sources generating solid waste [5]. Consequently, the establishment and implementation of adequate hospital waste management is essential to preventing these wastes from becoming carriers of pathogens or potential instigators of accidental hazards throughout treatment processes.…”

Infectious medical waste management during the COVID-19 pandemic in public hospitals of West Guji zone, southern Ethiopia

“…However, waste management across health institutions is still inadequate and received less attention. 8 , 9 At the same time, there is very low attention is given to healthcare waste management (HCW) by healthcare administrators. So that, the impact of improper medical waste management on the health of healthcare waste collectors is assumed to be very high.…”