International Federationof Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Medical waste management & Corpses
International Federationof Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
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Incorrect management of health-care waste may:
> Expose people to health-care associated infections:
– Health staff– Patients and visitors
> Be the cause of disease outbreaks:
– People who live around the health centre– People who recycle health-care waste
Risk
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Objectives of medical waste management
1. Handle and store wastes in a safe way
2. Make wastes:
> Non-contaminating
> And/or inaccessible
> And, if possible, non-reusable
International Federationof Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
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Classes of health-care waste
Sharps (needles, scalpels etc.), which may be infectious or notNon-sharps infectious waste (organics) (anatomical waste, pathological waste and dressings)Non-infectious non-sharps waste (paper, packaging etc.)Dangerous wastes (laboratory waste, expired drugs, radiological waste etc.)
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Principle of managing medical waste
> Management in the health-care setting if possible
> Minimum handling
> Simple, robust and widely applicable
> Appropriate – technically, socially and legally
> Effective
> Affordable and sustainable
International Federationof Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
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Management steps
S h a rp s p it
no
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sh a rps
R e fuse p it
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so fts
O rg a n ic p it
no
no
o rg a n ics
H e a lth C a re W a s te
D isp o sa l
T re a tm e nt
S to ra ge
S e gre ga tion
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Sharps
Recycled drugs container
MSF Reusable Sharps Container
Commercial sharps container
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Sharps
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Sharps
Minimum 1.5 m
Water table
Drainage
Ground level
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Non-Sharps Non – Infectious waste
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Non-Sharps Non- Infectious waste
Incinerator:
•Reduction of volume•Renders unusable•Decontamination•Renders inoffensive
Burner: Reduction of volume
International Federationof Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
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Non-Sharps Infectious waste
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Non-Sharps Infectious Waste
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Non-Sharps Infectious Waste
Ground level
Lining
Minimum 1.5 m
Water table
Drainage
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Dangerous Wastes
> Manage case-by-case
> Follow national
regulations
> Seek guidance from
WHO
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Waste treatment area
Washing area
Incinerator, protected from the rain
Waste bins storage place
Drains
Sharps pit
Organic waste pit
after 2 years
Ash pit Ash pit, after 2 years
Organic waste pit
Fence
Water supply
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Management issues
International Federationof Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
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Training and protection of personnel
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Minimum standards
Storage and collection •1 set of three segregated containers per 40 beds
Transport •Transport of 0.5 litres per bed
Disposal •Original pit volume of 400 litres per bed•Incinerator 5 m from nearest habitable building
•Pit 50 m from nearest habitable building
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Disposal of dead bodies
‘The myth that dead bodies cause a major risk of diseases as reiterated in all large natural disasters, is just that, a myth’ (Goyet, 1999)
International Federationof Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
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When corpses represent a risk
Medical epidemics where corpses play a key role in diseases transmission are rare, excepting:CholeraEbolaTyphus and plague
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Handling of the dead
Cultural practices: Respect the wishes and social customsBody dressing (body bags)Disinfection (chlorine solution)Protective clothingTransportationBurial sites (at least 50 m from groundwater sources and 500 m from the nearest habitable building). An area of 1500 m2 is required per 10.000 population.Burial depth (covering soil of at least 1 m) and 1.5 m from groundwater tableCremation (only if traditional method)
International Federationof Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
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Cholera / Ebola / Typhus outbreaks
Funerals can contribute to the spread of the disease
Limit funeral gathering, ritual body washing and funeral feast.If funeral feast can not be avoided, then special attention on food preparation needs to be placed.Embalming should not be carried outBodies should be placed in body bags prior to burial (minimize the contact with the body)
International Federationof Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
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Thank you……….Thank you……….