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."
Comments
Post a Comment