Medical Waste Compliance
Regulated
medical wastes are treated or decontaminated to reduce the microbial load in or
on the waste and to render the by-products safe for further handling and
disposal. Medical Waste Compliance From a
microbiologic standpoint, waste need not be rendered “sterile” because the
treated waste will not be deposited in a sterile site. In addition, waste need
not be subjected to the same reprocessing standards as are surgical
instruments. Historically, treatment methods involved steam-sterilization
(i.e., autoclaving), incineration, or interment (for anatomy wastes).
Alternative treatment methods developed in recent years include chemical
disinfection, grinding/shredding/disinfection methods, energy-based
technologies (e.g., microwave or radiowave treatments), and
disinfection/encapsulation methods.1409 State medical waste regulations specify
appropriate treatment methods for each category of regulated medical
waste.Medical waste is any type of waste that could potentially be infectious.
The United States Code defines medical waste as "Isolation wastes;
infectious agents; human blood and blood products; pathological wastes; sharps;
body parts; contaminated bedding; surgical wastes and potentially contaminated
laboratory wastes; dialysis wastes; and such additional medical items as the
Administrator shall prescribe by regulation."
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