A Detailed Guide on Proper Biomedical Waste Management
Biomedical waste management is an essential component of every healthcare facility's daily operations. With over 800,000 needle sticks per year and 1.34 million pounds of medical waste generated each
Biomedical waste management is an essential component of every healthcare facility's daily operations. With over 800,000 needle sticks per year and 1.34 million pounds of medical waste generated each hour in the United States, proper biomedical waste disposal is a critical concern for any medical organization. Trihaz Solutions created this biological waste guide to assist providers in maximizing health care success.
What Is Boimedical Waste?
Biomedical waste is defined as "any waste containing infectious (or potentially infectious) material." That definition may include polluted trash produced by various health care establishments. Doctor's offices, hospitals, laboratories, dentistry practices, funeral homes, veterinary clinics, and research facilities all produce biological waste.
The 1988 Medical Waste Tracking Act defines biomedical waste (or "biomedical waste") as trash produced during medical care, diagnosis, vaccinations, or research involving humans or animals. Waste may include bodily fluids, human body parts or tissues, sharps such as needles, scalpels, or broken glass, culture dishes, gloves, dressings, and swabs.
Different Names for Biomedical Waste
There are numerous names for biomedical waste. They all have the same general description, however biomedical waste is defined specifically as any waste that may be contaminated with disease-causing infectious pathogens.
Biomedical Waste
Medical Waste
Regulated Medical Waste (RMW)
Clinical
Biohazardous
Infectious medical
Health care waste
The term "biomedical waste" does not technically refer to all types of trash generated by health care institutions, such as pharmaceutical or radioactive waste. Nonetheless, the phrase is frequently used in its broadest sense. The WHO classified human tissue, fluids, body parts, sharps, and contaminated supplies as biohazardous. The WHO classifies animal tissue and non-contaminated trash as "general medical waste."
A dustpan full of dirt from the break room floor, a bin of recyclable office paper, and a trash can full of coffee grounds and eggshells are all technically "medical waste," as long as they come from a health care facility. This type of "medical waste" is unregulated and not considered "biomedical."
A Brief History of Biomedical Waste
Biomedical waste management in the United States has progressed dramatically during the last few decades. In the 1980s, a series of well reported episodes of medical waste washing up on beaches sparked a public outcry. As a result of the regulatory effort, the Federal Medical Waste Tracking Act of 1988 was formed.
The FMWT Act established stringent waste transportation regulations for hospitals and other health-care organizations. The act expired in 1991, but lessons learned were transferred to state agencies, which took on the regulatory burden. New biomedical waste management technologies are emerging, with advantages in safety, affordability, convenience, and speed. Some of the most effective developments come from a small number of new trash disposal companies that handle biomedical waste via US mail.
The Risk to Human Health
The statistic of 32 pounds per day of medical waste per hospital bed is very genuine. Nearly 5 pounds per day of that total are regulated biomedical waste or other hazardous materials. Multiplying by a million staffed beds in the United States yields 5 million pounds each day, or 208,000 pounds per hour.
The enormous volume of biological waste provides infectious pathogens with literally millions of possibilities per day to harm health care professionals, patients, garbage workers, and the general public. Needle sticks are widespread, with 91 reported each hour in the United States alone. Non-needle hazardous trash can cause infection by exposing us to harmful germs and viruses. This occurs when we come into direct contact with contaminated material or consume water contaminated with it.
Conclusion
Biomedical waste is an aspect of medical waste in general. It comprises sharps and pathological or infectious waste. It can include anything from needles to shattered glass, human tissues and fluids, swabs, and bandages. It generally refers to everything that may be contaminated with pathogenic materials. The whole guide above defines biomedical waste management, as well as its various forms, best practices, disposal techniques, and regulatory bodies.