Management of medical waste and biological risks in the teaching hospital of Cocody, Ivory Coast

Abstract

From August 1st to 21st, 2015, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in intensive care units, gynecology-obstetrics, pediatrics-neonatology and anatomy-pathology. Care and cleaning staff filled in a standardized questionnaire. Empirical data was obtained on professional characteristics and management policy; treatment of biomedical waste and biological risk. The management of biomedical waste was irrational because of: inadequate management policy, lack of material resources and staff training. Biological exposure of the staff was so obvious. We noted: lack of microplans (92.23%) and tools for managing biomedical waste (83.50%). Any medical waste manager was identified in the services (78.64%). Selective sorting was practiced for needLe and blades with conventional safety boxes (59.22%), filled to over flow (44.6%). Color-coding wasn't respected for others infectious waste (95.15%) and the garbage used for their collection lacked closures (84.4%).Participants were not immunized against hepatitis B virus (40%) and 16% reported cases of blood exposure accident. About 30% of them were neither sensitized nor trained to treat BMW. A participatory management policy, training and staff awareness are essential to improve the quality of biomedical waste management in this hospital.