Biomedical Waste Generation Research Articles

Exploring Biomedical Waste Management Practices Among Healthcare Professionals: A Study From a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in Eastern India.

The generation of biomedical waste (BMW) in hospitals presents a significant hazard to both healthcare workers (HCWs) and the environment. The management of BMW is a challenge regarding inappropriate behavior among HCWs, leading to improper segregation of the BMW, which deserves attention.The indiscriminate BMW management issue in India has attracted the attention of the highest judicial bodies. The rise in the incidence of needle stick injuries is a severe threat to waste handlers and is mainly due to improper segregation practices. This study aimed to identify the challenges in BMW management in the institute and develop a strategy to improve the knowledge and practices of healthcare professionals (HCPs) in BMW management. A process-based intervention was developed and implemented that involved facility inspection rounds, focused group discussions with HCWs, preparation of information, education, and communication (IEC) materials, signage, staff training, and improved infrastructure and supplies for waste collection. A questionnaire-based evaluation of the staff's knowledge of BMW management was conducted, and the impact of the intervention was assessed from the hospital infection control audit reports. Multiple reasons for poor compliance with BMW segregation practices were identified, and it improved from 57% to 91% with interventions. A significant difference was noted in the knowledge level of staff before and after the interventions.Post-intervention score was highest among the nurses (98.5%), followed by sanitation staff (92.7%), doctors (89.25%), and paramedics (81.7%). Incorrect segregation practices of BMW and incidents of occupational exposure to blood and body fluids are reduced with interventions in the study. Robust supply chain management with regular training of staff is vital to ensure compliance in BMW management.

Investigation on Utilization of Medical Waste Ash in Concrete

There is a major problem in India for generation of biomedical waste from health care units, research laboratories, clinics and other medical sources. Generation of waste adversely affect the whole environment for human being. Therefore Utilization of medical waste ash is a challenging work for all over India. Some researches revealed the scope for the use of medical waste ash in concrete as partly replacing of cement. In this paper the study describes the workability, density and compressive strength of concrete after partly replacing of cement with medical waste ash. Keyword: Medical waste, ash, concrete, coarse, aggregate, workability.

Biomedical waste management in dental practice during the COVID-19: A questionnaire survey and a narrative review

Background: Environmental hazards have been a highly debated topic worldwide for a considerable time. During the pandemic, the benefits of environmental cleanliness in terms of increased water quality, air quality, has been reported oftentimes. However, the generation of biomedical waste comprising health care worker utilities such as masks, and gloves, has increased and this increase is calculated in terms of alarming statistics which shows 10 fold higher prediction of Biomedical waste than before. Recent studies by researchers support a cleaner environment; however, an equally increasing amount of biomedical waste generated needs to be monitored strictly alongside stringent regulations for safe disposal of biomedical waste which to be instilled in the mind of the general public. Materials and Methods: Databases like Pubmed and Google scholar were systematically searched for articles with the specific keywords “biomedical waste management in dental practice” which identified 17 articles on 13/09.2020 where filters were applied and restricted to 2020. A detailed analysis of the 17 articles was done and few articles were considered in this narrative review. Results: Our survey results show that the generation of biomedical waste and the awareness of the dental fraternity is very less, almost 41% don’t know the amount of waste generated in India. Conclusion: Amid growing COVID-19 disease incidence, a day-to-day assessment of biomedical waste generation with individual social responsibility is a dire need of the hour to combat and overcome the disease.

Quantum and Management of BioMedical Waste Generation both Preceding and Subsequent to the Advent of Covid-19 – A Case Study at SRM Kattankulattur

Quantum and Management of BioMedical Waste Generation both Preceding and Subsequent to the Advent of Covid-19 – A Case Study at SRM Kattankulattur

Variability of the treated biomedical waste disposal behaviours during the COVID lockdowns.

Literature review suggests that studies on biomedical waste generation and disposal behaviors in North America are limited. Given the infectious nature of the materials, effective biomedical waste management is vital to the public health and safety of the residents. This study explicitly examines seasonal variations of treated biomedical waste (TBMW) disposal rates in the City of Regina, Canada, from 2013 to 2022. Immediately before the onset of COVID-19, the City exhibited a steady pattern of TBMW disposal rate at about 6.6kg∙capita-1∙year-1. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated lockdowns brought about an abrupt and persistent decline in TBMW disposal rates. Inconsistent fluctuations in both magnitude and variability of the monthly TBMW load weights were also observed. The TBMW load weight became particularly variable in 2020, with an interquartile range 4 times higher than 2019. The average TBMW load weight was also the lowest (5.1 tonnes∙month-1∙truckload-1) in 2020, possibly due to an overall decline in non-COVID-19 medical emergencies, cancellation of elective surgeries, and availability of telehealth options to residents. In general, the TBMW disposal rates peaked during the summer and fall seasons. The day-to-day TBMW disposal contribution patterns between the pre-pandemic and post-pandemic are similar, with 97.5% of total TBMW being disposed of on fixed days. Results from this Canadian case study indicate that there were observable temporal changes in TBMW disposal behaviors during and after the COVID-19 lockdowns.

The Efficient Disposal of Biomedical Waste Is Critical to Public Health: Insights from the Central Pollution Control Board Guidelines in India.

Biomedical waste (BMW), encompassing hazardous medical materials, poses environmental and public health risks if not correctly managed. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in India isa statutory organization that oversees BMW disposal standards, aimed at mitigating these hazards. BMW mismanagement is a major problem and potentially poses threats to the environment as well as public health. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, increased use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other medical equipment was witnessed which led to a marked raised BMW generation. To ensure proper and optimized BMW management, CPCB established guidelines and rules to be followed by the medical facilities as well as the common BMW treatment facilities (CBWTFs). The challenges in implementing proper waste management practices were lack of awareness and inadequate infrastructure. Strategies for better BMW management were proposed, including color-coded bins, improved infrastructure, advanced technology, and awareness campaigns. Highlighting CPCB's vital role, this emphasizes healthcare facilities' proactive role in implementing and evolving regulations for sustainable BMW disposal, ensuring both public health and environmental well-being through compliance and responsible waste management partnerships.

Evaluation of biomedical waste generation in Himachal Pradesh before and during the Covid 19 pandemic

Himachal Pradesh dealt with the same crisis as other states in India due to the extensive dissemination of the COVID-19 coronavirus infection. Biomedical waste management is crucial for public health and environmental safety, and the pandemic's impact on waste generation is an understudied area. This study specifically utilizes data from the Himachal Pradesh Pollution Control Board as well as information from other governmental and non-governmental organizations, which are analysed and compared for the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods. This research offers a thorough analysis of waste generation of Himachal Pradesh both before and during the COVID-19 outbreak. Kangra (671 kg/day), Shimla (526 kg/day), are found to be high Bio medical waste generation (BMWG) districts whereas Kinnour (22 kg/day), Lahul Spiti (6 kg/day) are observed as lowest BMW generating districts in Himachal Pradesh on average basis in the year 2018 to 2020. The unexpected COVID-19 viral pandemic has caused a huge increase in Bio-medical waste (584 kg/day) in the year 2021 in comparison to that in the year 2020 (139 kg/day). The gaps analysis of Himachal Pradesh implementation of the Biomedical waste regulations was also assessed in this study. Deep burials have been severely prohibited by the Himachal Pradesh government; yet, two districts continue to dispose of BMWs using deep burial techniques. The findings reveal important insights into the changing patterns of BMW generation, shedding light on the challenges and requirements for effective waste management strategies during health crises. The insights obtained from this study can contribute in development of resilient waste management system that can effectively respond to future pandemics or health crises, ensuring the safety of healthcare workers, the public, and the environment.

Assessment of Biomedical Waste Generation in Dialysis Units: A Prospective Observational Study-Is it Time for "Green Dialysis"?

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease and as a consequence end-stage kidney disease (EKSD) is increasing globally. More and more people across the world are requiring hemodialysis (HD). The HD procedure produces a large quantity of biomedical waste. In addition, HD consumes a large quantity of water. In this study, we estimated the waste generated from our government-funded HD unit. Materials and methods: It is a prospective study that was carried out in the dialysis unit in the nephrology department over a period of 1 year. The daily dialysis waste generated by the unit was measured using a spring balance. The proportion of plastic and nonplastic waste was determined. The quantity of biomedical waste generated per person in 1 year was calculated. Water input to the dialysis unit was noted. Water consumption per dialysis was calculated. Liquid chemical waste consumed was determined. Electricity consumed by the unit was measured by the electricity meter. The cost of waste disposal was calculated. The cost of electricity consumption and water consumption was also calculated. Results: The approximate weight of waste disposables generated in one dialysis was 0.75 kg. Approximately each person generates 1.29 kg of waste per dialysis. Each dialysis required 125 L of reverse osmosis (RO) water and to generate 125 L of RO water 250 L of raw water was used. This happens as 125 L of water are rejected during the generation of 125 L of RO water. Thus, the net water consumption for each dialysis was 250 L. Chemical waste generated per dialysis includes 90 mL citric acid per dialysis and 130 mL bleach. Each dialysis consumes 3 kWh (three units) of electricity. The cost of electricity for each dialysis was 25.5 INR and the cost of water was 25 INR per dialysis. The cost of waste disposal for each dialysis bed was 6 INR. Discussion: Each dialysis patient produced 1.29 kg of waste per dialysis which was like other studies. Unlike other studies, the waste was not being reprocessed or recycled. Conclusion: Hemodialysis produces substantial biomedical waste. Proper waste disposal techniques and policies to promote reduction, reuse, and recycling will go a long way toward promoting green dialysis and reducing environmental as well as economic burdens. How to cite this article: Sahay M, Sahay RK, Seshadri B, et al. Assessment of Biomedical Waste Generation in Dialysis Units: A Prospective Observational Study-Is it Time for "Green Dialysis"? J Assoc Physicians India 2023;71(10):49-52.

Management of Bio‐Medical Wastes during COVID‐19 Pandemic: A Case Study of Haryana State

AbstractManagement of biomedical waste (BMW) is important for a healthy and safe environment. In order to guarantee cleanliness and hygiene, BMW must be collected, disposed of, and handled appropriately. The world is being affected by the COVID‐19 pandemic, which has spread to various countries. The COVID‐19 pandemic has increased the volume of BMW production, created challenges for both the central and state pollution control boards (SPCB). During this pandemic, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Climate Change (CPCB) devised and implemented various guidelines and standards for proper BMW management. The number of common biomedical waste treatment facilities (CBMWTFs) has risen, and several states and private institutions have built their own BMW treatment facilities. Despite this, some countries do not have enough infrastructures for biomedical waste management (BMWM). Haryana is responsible for a significant percentage of the COVID‐related BMW generation. Despite the fact that the state possesses 11 CBMWTFs, it is unable to handle this BMW properly. Thus, the finding of this study showed that in some Indian states including Haryana, there are insufficient institutional systems for managing biomedical and hazardous wastes during pandemic situations. The study is based on the examination of data on BMW generation and management. The data have been collected from legitimate sources including scientific literatures and annual reported from government websites. The findings are expected to provide the reader with relevant information on the suitability and efficiency of the whole BMW management framework in India.

Appraisal of biomedical waste management practice in India and associated human health and environmental risk

Biomedical waste management is an essential aspect of human and environmental safety. The healthcare industries and the unfortunate pandemic have increased the generation of biomedical waste. If biomedical waste is not managed safely, it poses human health and ecological risks. Hence, the study aims to appraise the scenario of biomedical waste management in India and to identify its effect on human health and the environment. The study used a systematic approach to review all the rules and regulations related to biomedical waste management issued by the Government of India from time to time. Further, the study explored the strengths and weaknesses of the current BMW management rules using the SWOT analysis model. All recent and relevant literature was critically examined using scoping review approaches to better understand the health and environmental risks associated with poor biomedical waste management to propose the best practices and future direction. It was found that needle stick injury is a major hazard to human health during segregation. Poor segregation practices can lead to the mixing of biomedical waste with municipal solid waste. Hence, there is a need for proper training about the current biomedical waste rules with a specific focus on biomedical waste segregation at the time of generation. Each process involved in biomedical waste management can adversely impact the environment and human health if not managed well. The impact and gaps of poor biomedical waste management from generation to disposal have been identified. The study recommends routine awareness programs and capacity building for proper biomedical waste management and to minimize the associated environmental and human health risks. These risks could be minimized further through implementing scientific and systematic approaches in biomedical waste treatment and management, including regulatory compliance.

Biomedical waste generation at Ayurveda hospitals in South Asia: A mini review of the composition, quantities and characteristics.

Ayurveda hospitals generate biomedical wastes (BMW). However, details on composition, quantities and characteristics are very scarce, details which are important to formulate a proper waste management plan for subsequent implementation and continual improvement. Therefore, this article presents a mini review of the composition, quantities and characteristics of BMW generated from Ayurveda hospitals. Additionally, this article presents some best possible treatment and disposal procedures. Most of the information was gleaned from peer-reviewed journals, although some information was collected by the author and from grey literature available to the author; 70-99% (by wet weight) of the solid waste is non-hazardous; biodegradables contributing to 44-60% by wet weight due to more used Kizhi (medicinal bags for fomentation) and other medicinal/pharmaceutical wastes (excluding waste medicated oils, which is 12-15% of the liquid medicinal waste stream and are not readily biodegradable) largely derived from plants. The hazardous waste component includes infectious wastes, sharps, blood as pathological wastes (from Raktamoksha - bloodletting), heavy metal containing pharmaceutical wastes, chemical wastes and heavy metal rich wastes. Quantities of infectious wastes followed by sharps and blood form a major portion of hazardous wastes. Most of the infectious waste material contaminated with blood or other body fluids and sharps from Raktamoksha are very similar (appearance, moisture content and bulk density) to what is generated from hospitals practicing Western medicine. However, hospital-specific waste studies are required in future to better understand the sources, areas of generation, types, quantities and characteristics of BMW, and hence to formulate more accurate waste management plans.

An investigation of the bio-medical waste produced in India during the COVID-19 pandemic and Maharashtra state (pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19) analysis: a GIS-based approach

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic exerted substantial pressure on global healthcare systems and facilities, putting the lives of countless individuals at risk. In addition, the treatment of patients during the pandemic resulted in an unprecedented increase in the volume of medical waste generated, including biomedical waste (BMW) or healthcare waste (HCW), which poses a risk of infectious disease transmission. As the second most populous country in the world, India faced a severe challenge in managing its healthcare waste infrastructure during this time (2020–2021). Proper disposal of BMW was of utmost importance to prevent the spread of infectious agents and to safeguard public health.MethodsThe environmental monitoring and management framework of the country is well planned and governed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which carefully handles the BMW across the states and union territory of the country. Through the execution of Android based application named ‘COVID19BMW’, India has laid the foundation of identification, classification, data collection, and management regarding the BMW. Further, the temporal scale of BMW generation tracking was further improved from a monthly to a daily basis by using the COVID19BMW tool. This data was used to map the change taken place across the India. Additionally, by using Geographical Information System the BMW is mapped using Choropleth method.ResultsThe current study conducted a national-level analysis of BMW generated during the COVID-19 pandemic in India. The results revealed that, in the year 2020, the seven states and the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi generated the highest amounts of BMW, with Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal being the top BMW generating states. Additionally, the change detection equation was used to map the changes. The investigation analysed the daily changes in BMW generation between 2020 and 2021 at the national level. The results indicated a significant decreasing trend of -50.35% in BMW generation per day. In the case of Maharashtra state, the change detection analysis for the pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 pandemic periods showed an increased trend of approximately 32%. However, in 2021, a decreasing trend was observed, with a -2.23% reduction in BMW generation compared to 2020 on the daily basis of BMW generation. These findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced BMW generation of waste, and the results can provide insights for improving waste management policies and practices.DiscussionIn this study, a Geographical Information System (GIS) was employed to create a mapped representation of the BMW data at national scale. Further, the study investigated changes in BMW generation in Maharashtra state during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analysis of changes in BMW generation revealed a pattern of BMW generation during the pandemic. The use of GIS technology to track these changes proved to be a valuable tool in providing a synoptic view of the overall BMW condition across India and identifying areas where infectious waste poses a significant threat. The visualisation of data using the GIS technique provided an easy means of identifying hotspots of BMW generation, which is more effective compared to a tabular format.

Geographical and temporal analysis of bio-medical waste management in India.

In India, a large quantity of bio-medical waste is generated by healthcare facilities. This study analyses the geographical and temporal variations in bio-medical waste management (BMWM) in India systematically. A comprehensive BMWM inventory of India's states and union territories for the period 2008-2017 was prepared and analysed. The objectives of this study were to analyse BMWM implementation geographically across the country to assess its performance, and to understand its policy implementation gaps over time. During 2008-2017, the total bio-medical waste generation increased from 409 to 558Mg/day. Among all the states and union territories, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Gujarat have the highest number of healthcare facilities. The quantity of waste generated is the highest in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Bihar, West Bengal, and Gujarat. The quantity of waste treated has also increased with the enforcement of the Bio-Medical Waste Rules (2016). The quantity of bio-medical waste treatment is highest in Karnataka and Maharashtra. This analysis will help to improve the practice of BMWM, and it can be used to bridge the gaps in effective and efficient management of bio-medical waste in India.

A Study on Biomedical Waste Generation Rate in South, East Zones of Hyderabad

Waste disposal is especially important when it comes to medical supplies, as some waste can be contaminated with diseases and dangerous pathogens. Not all biomedical waste is treated the same way and different disposal companies use different methods such as autoclaving, incineration, chemicals and microwaves. Improper disposal of medical waste causes environmental pollution, unpleasant odours, the growth and reproduction of insects, rodents and nematodes, and injuries from blood-contaminated sharp objects, typhoid fever, cholera, hepatitis, etc. can lead to disease transmission. Safe and sustainable disposal of biomedical waste (BMW) is a social and legal responsibility of all those who support and fund medical activities. Effective BMW Management (BMWM) is essential for healthy people and a clean environment. The basic principle of (BMWM) is source separation and waste reduction. We also need to do a lot of research and development in the field of developing eco-friendly medical devices and BMW disposal systems to achieve a greener and cleaner environment. This study will reveal the current processes and environmental impacts of biomedical waste management by examining the quantity and quality of biomedical waste (BMW) generated by pharmacies, laboratories and multiple speciality hospitals.

Impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on environment, society, and food security.

Coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 is a viral and transferable disease caused by severe respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2. It can spread through breathing droplets in human beings. It caused 5.32 million deaths around the world at the end of 2021. COVID-19 has caused several positive impacts as well, such as a reduction in air, water, and noise pollution. However, its negative impacts are by far critical such as increased death rate, increased release of microcontaminants (pesticides, biocides, pharmaceuticals, surfactants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), flame retardants, and heavy metals), increased biomedical waste generation due to excessive use of safety equipment and its disposal, and municipal solid waste generation. Environmental pollution was significantly reduced due to lockdown during the COVID-19 period. Therefore, the quality of air and water improved. COVID-19 affected all sections of the population, particularly the most vulnerable members of society, and thus pushed more people into poverty. At the world level, it increased risks to food safety by increasing prices and lowering revenues, forcing households to reduce their food consumption in terms of quantity and quality. COVID-19 also upset various exercises e.g., horticulture, fisheries, domesticated animals, and agribusiness hence prohibiting the development of merchandise for poor-country ranchers. Most of the patients can self-recover from COVID-19 if they do not have any other diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart problems. Predictably, the appropriate execution of the proposed approaches (vaccination, wearing face masks, social distancing, sustainable industrialization) is helpful for worldwide environmental sustainability.

Energy-saving COVID–19 biomedical plastic waste treatment using the thermal - Catalytic pyrolysis

The rate of Biomedical waste generation increases exponentially during infectious diseases, such as the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which burst in December 2019 and spread worldwide in a very short time, causing over 6 M casualties worldwide till May 2022. As per the WHO guidelines, the facemask has been used by every person to prevent the infection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and discarded as biomedical waste. In the present work, a 3-ply facemask was chosen to be treated using the solvent, which was extracted from the different types of waste plastics through the thermal–catalytic pyrolysis process using a novel catalyst. The facemask was dispersed in the solvent in a heating process, followed by dissolution and precipitation of the facemask in the solvent and by filtration of the solid facemask residue out of the solvent. The effect of peak temperature, heating rate, and type of solvent is observed experimentally, and it found that the facemask was dissolved completely with a clear supernate in the solvent extracted from the (polypropylene + poly-ethylene) plastic also saved energy, while the solvent from ABS plastic was not capable to dissolute the facemask. The potential of the presented approach on the global level is also examined.

Pre-Experimental Study to Assess the Impact of Awareness Program on Practice Regarding Bio-Medical Waste Management among Staff Nurses at Selected Hospital Kashmir

The aim of this study is to provide adequate awareness on practice among staff nurses regarding bio-medical waste management. Biomedical Wastes are those potential hazardous materials, consisting of solids, liquids, articles, sharps, and laboratory waste which pose a grave danger to the health of humans as well as other living organisms and in some cases, it may be lethal too. It is extremely important that the waste must be properly managed and disposed of safely so as to prevent outbreak of infections to general public and in health care settings in a society. According to the Ministry of Environment and Forests gross generation of biomedical waste in India is 4, 05,702 kg/day of which only 2, 91,983 kg/day is disposed, which means that almost 28% of the wastes is left untreated. The medical personals are more to get infection if not properly categorized and managed. Therefore, On the basis of these views a study was conducted to assess the impact of awareness program on practice regarding bio -medical waste management among staff nurses at selected hospital of Kashmir. For which 50 subjects were selected by purposive sampling technique. After data collection observational checklist was used to assess the practice among subjects. The data was analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics by using chi-square and t-test. The findings revealed that the mean posttest practice level score (15.80), standard deviation 1.979, was significantly higher than mean pretest practice level score 13.96, standard deviation 3.319 among study subjects which indicated that observational checklist was highly effective in enhancing the practice among staff nurses at mean difference 1.84. The study also concluded that there were statistically no significant association between demographic variables (p=0.000) of staff nurses with their pre-test practice scores at 0.05 level of significance

Awareness of Biomedical Waste Management among Health Care Personnel in Bareilly International University, Bareilly, India

INTRODUCTION: Biomedical Waste is defined as any waste, which is generated during the diagnosis, treatment or immunisation of human beings or animals or in research activities pertaining thereto or in the production or testing of biological products. Healthcare workers are one of the main contributors to the healthcare waste management process. AIM: The study aimed to assess the level of awareness and attitude regarding biomedical waste management policy and practices among health care workers at Bareilly International University, Bareilly, India. MATERIALS AND METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a questionnaire with closed-ended questions which was distributed to 150 medical, 154 dental and 100 Class IV employees at Bareilly International University, India. The responses in the questionnaire were used to assess their knowledge of biomedical waste disposal. The responses were evaluated, and each participant's percentage of correct and incorrect responses for each question was calculated. RESULTS: The results indicated that all healthcare professionals had a low degree of knowledge and awareness regarding the risks associated with biomedical waste formation, legal requirements, and management. Only 11 (7.14%) dental interns had excellent knowledge about biomedical waste generation and legislation while 5 (3.33%) medical interns had extremely poor knowledge about it. Only 4 (4%) Class IV employees had an excellent awareness of biomedical waste management practices. Only 34 (22.08%) dental interns had an excellent level of knowledge of needle-stick injuries among health care personnel. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that health care professionals have a low degree of knowledge and awareness regarding the risks of biomedical waste generation, laws, and management at Bareilly International University, India hence there is a requirement for regular monitoring and training at all levels of healthcare.

Biomedical waste management: assessment in health facility of a tertiary care teaching hospital in Jammu, union territori of Jammu and Kashmir, India

Background: Biomedical waste (BMW) management has, of late, emerged as an important health as well as environmental concern. It is imperative upon all the health facilities, irrespective of their size and number of patients catered, to ensure appropriate BMW management at all levels starting from its generation to its final disposal. The study intended to assess the management of BMW generated in one health facility of a tertiary care teaching hospital.Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted w.e.f. 1st January 2020 to 30th June 2020. The BMW generated in the Shri Maharaja Gulab Singh (SMGS) hospital-a health facility of government medical college (GMC) Jammu was collected at a designated place after its segregation. Then it was weighed before its transportation and final disposal. The BMW was weighed to generate monthly rates which were then converted to daily rates. Finally, BMW generation per bed per day was calculated.Results: It was found that BMW generated per bed per day was 0.197 kg. Infectious waste comprised 15% of the total whereas non-infectious component was 85%. The color-coded bags collection rate per day was 48.8 kg, 28.4 kg, 17.02 kg and 7.75 kg for yellow, red, blue and white containers, respectively.Conclusions: The authors found that the health facility was adhering to guidelines of BMW management. The need for continuous education and awareness promotion about BMW management among sanitation workers, nurses, technicians and doctors cannot be underestimated.

Biomedical waste disposal practices among healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic in secondary and tertiary care facilities of Tamil Nadu

PurposeThe ongoing COVID-19 crisis has drastically changed the practice of biomedical waste (BMW) generation and management. Studies venturing into the facility level preparedness at various levels of healthcare delivery during pandemic situation is the need of the hour. Hence, we did this study to assess the BMW disposal practices amongst secondary and tertiary health facilities during COVID-19 pandemic in Tamil Nadu. Materials and methodsThis cross-sectional survey was conducted amongst doctors, nurses and allied healthcare staffs across various departments in 18 public health facilities across six districts of Tamil Nadu. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was done based on the random-intercept model to assess the determinants of BMW disposal practices. The effect size was reported as adjusted odds ratio (aOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). ResultsIn total, 2593 BMW disposal observations were made. During nearly three-fourth of the observations (73%), the BMW was disposed of appropriately. Nurses (aOR ​= ​1.54; 95%CI: 1.06–2.23) and doctors (aOR ​= ​1.60; 95%CI: 1.05–2.45), healthcare workers in Paediatrics department (aOR ​= ​1.77; 95%CI: 1.13–2.76), healthcare workers in inpatient department (aOR ​= ​2.77; 95%CI: 1.95–3.94) and injection outpatient department (aOR ​= ​2.69; 95%CI: 1.59–4.47) had significantly better odds of having appropriate BMW disposal practices. ConclusionOur study shows that nearly during three-fourth of the observations, healthcare workers performed appropriate BMW disposal practices. However, measures should be taken to achieve 100% compliance by healthcare workers especially the target groups identified in our study by allocating appropriate resources and periodically monitor the BMW disposal practices.