PMLS Chapter 11

Majority of the waste produced by health care facilities are

Non hazardous waste

A syringe used for the injection of an antineoplastic drug is classified under this type of waste

Pharmaceutical waste/sharps

it is a halogenated disinfectant

Sodium hypochlorite

DOH Administrative order no. 2008- 0021 mandated the phaseout of equipment containing this metal

mercury

This law prohibited the use of incineration as a method of disposal for Biomedical wastes

RA 8749

The most important step in the proper management of health care waste is

Waste minimization

A yellow plastic liner, with a black bag is used for this type of waste

Chemical/Pharmaceutical waste

This method of waste treatment uses moist heat at 121 C at 15 PSI for 15-30 minutes

Autoclave

This is an engineered site designed to keep the waste isolated from the environment and is tightly regulated by DENR

Landfill

Contain pathogens and toxins in sufficient concentration that may cause disease to a susceptible host

infectious waste

IT includes discarded materials or equipment used for diagnosis, treatement and management of patients with infectious diseases

Infectious waste

Refers to tissues section and body fluid or organs derived from biopsies, autopsies or surgical procedures sent to the laboratory for examination

Pathological and Anatomical waste

Refers to waste items that can cause cut, pricks, or puncture wounds

Sharps

Refers to discarded chemicals generated during disinfection and sterilization procedures

Chemical waste

Include waste with high content of heavy metals and their derivatives

Chemical waste

Considered the most dangerous health care waste because of their potential to cause both injury and infections

Sharps

Refers to expired, spilt, and contaminated pharmaceutical products, drugs and vaccines including discarded items in handling pharmaceuticals

Pharmaceutical waste

Refers to waste exposed to radionuclides including radioactive diagnostic materials or radiotherapeutic materials

Radioactive waste

Refers to waste that have not been in contact with communicable or infectious agents, hazardous chemicals, or radioactive substances, and do not pose a hazard

Non hazardous or general waste

Example include: discarded microbial cultures, solid waste with infections such as dressings, sputum cups, urine containers and blood bags.

Infectious Waste

Examples include internal organs and tissues used for histopathological examinations

Pathological and Anatomical Waste

Examples include syringes in phlebotomy, blood lancets, surgical knives, and broken glasswares

Sharps

Examples include laboratory reagents, X ray film, disinfectant and soaping solutions, used batteries, concentrated ammonia solutions

Chemical waste

examples include empty drug vials, medicine bottles and containers of cytotoxic drugs

pharmaceutical wastes

examples include cobalt, technetium, iodine, iridium, iridiated blood products

radioactive wastes

examples include plastic bottles, used paper products, office waste, scrap wood, and food waste

non-hazardous or general wastes

refers to either finding a new application for a used material or using the same product for the same application repeatedly

Reusing

refers to the processing of used materials into new products

Recycling

(1) energy recovery whereby waste is converted to fuel for generating electricity or for directing heating of premises and

(2) as a term used to encompass three subsets of waste recovery: recyclung, composting, and energy recovery

Recovery

Strong leak-proof bin with cover labelled “infectious” with biohazard symbol.

Yellow Plastic

Infectious waste

Strong leak-proof bin cover labelled “Pathological/Anatomical Waste” with biohazard symbol.

Yellow plastic

Pathological/Anatomical Waste

Puncture-proof container with wide mouth and cover labelled “Sharps” with biohazard symbol

Sharps

it is the thermal decomposition of health to waste in the absence of supplied molecular oxygen in the destruction chamber

Pyrolysis

the use of steam sterilization to render wastee harmless and is an efficient wet thermal disinfection process

Autoclave

it is a technology that typically incorporates some type of size reduction device

Microwave

Chemicals like sodium hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide, peroxyacetic acid, and heated alkali are added to health care waste to kill or inactivate present pathogens

Chemical disinfection

uses an enzyme mixture to decontaminate health care waste

Biological process

Involves the filling of containers with waste adding and immobilazing material and sealing the containers.

Process uses either cubic boxes of high density polyethylene or metallic drums, that are three quarters filled with sharps, or chemicals or

Encapsulation

is especially suitable for pharmaceutical wastes that involves the mixing of waste with cement and other substances before disposal

Inertization

is an engineered site designed to keep waste isolated from the environment

Landfill