Biomedical Waste Management Research Articles

State Of Play On The Management Of Solid Biomedical Waste At The Barumbu Mother And Child Hospital Center And Medical Services Center In The City Of Kinshasa In DR Congo

Objective: To evaluate the management of solid bio-medical waste (BMW) at the Barumbu Mother and Child Hospital (MCH) and Medical Services Center.Methods: Transversal descriptive study made from May 19 to July 19, 2023. Of the 417 questionnaires distributed to providers, 272 responses were obtained, representing a response rate of 65.2%. Data collection was done by survey questionnaire, direct observations and daily weighing. Data analysis is done by Epi-info 7.2.5 and Excel 2016 software.Results: The average estimated daily amounts of BMW at MCH Barumbu and Medical Services Center are 0.45 kg/bed and 0.97 kg/bed, respectively. The sorting was not suitable at 65%, lack of packaging and color code. The insufficiency of material resources was criticized at 88%. 55.5% of accidents/injuries were recorded. The storage area was not secure. 88.97% of staff were unaware of management standards, 99.3% were aware of the health risks associated with hospital waste and 13.97 were trained. It is noted that the financial resources allocated to the management of BMW are insufficient.Conclusion: Improving the management of BMW inevitably requires the removal of constraints that would require the involvement of managers at all levels.

Physicochemical Analysis of Biomedical Waste Incinerated Bottom Ash Samples to Assess the Biomedical Waste Management Practices of Alwar City, India

Physicochemical Analysis of Biomedical Waste Incinerated Bottom Ash Samples to Assess the Biomedical Waste Management Practices of Alwar City, India

Regulation of biomedical waste management in Kazakhstan during the pandemic in the context of best practices.

The COVID-19 pandemic actualized questions about the proper management of biomedical waste while creating several regulatory challenges and requiring countries to look for an appropriate response. These issues have become particularly relevant for Kazakhstan, where waste management issues traditionally face inefficient legal regulation and are particularly acute. This study aims to answer the question of what regulatory problems Kazakhstan currently face in the area of proper biomedical waste management, and how existing foreign experience can help solve them. The present study highlights several pertinent challenges within the context of medical waste management. These include issues concerning the licencing activities associated with waste management, the absence of well-defined regional plans for the management of medical waste and the lack of effective strategies to address the proper handling and disposal of this specific category of waste. At the same time, there are reasons to say that the country requires additional technical and expert support in the field of medical waste management.

Hand hygiene and biomedical waste management among medical students: a quasi-experimental study evaluating two training methods

BackgroundSeveral studies revealed that medical students have low performance levels of hand hygiene (HH) and biomedical waste management (BMWM). However, there have been limited interventions directed at young students targeting HH and BMWM enhancement. Given these data, we aimed at assessing HH and BMWM among medical students after two training methods.MethodsWe performed a quasi-experimental study from September 2021 to May 2022, which included fifth-year medical students enrolled in the faculty of Medicine of Monastir (Tunisia). We relied on a conventional training based on presentations and simulations guided by the teacher and a student-centred training method based on courses and simulated exercises prepared by students. We used the WHO HH Knowledge Questionnaire and the “BMWM audit” validated by The Nosocomial Infection Control Committee in France.ResultsA total of 203 medical students were included (105 in the control group and 98 in the experimental group) with a mean age of 23 ± 0.7 years. Regarding HH, we found a statistically significant increase in post-test scores for both training methods. A higher post-test mean score was noted for student-centred method (14.1 ± 1.9 vs. 13.9 ± 2.3). The overall improvement in good HH knowledge rates was greater after student-centred method compared to conventional training (40.5% vs. 25%). Concerning infectious waste, mean scores were higher after student-centred learning in all hazardous waste management steps (25 ± 3.3 vs. 23.6 ± 5.5).ResultsCoupling student-centred teaching and continuous supervision could improve HH and BMWM knowledge and practices among medical students.

Chorographic assessment on the overburden of single-use plastics bio-medical wastes risks and management during COVID-19 pandemic in India

Chorographic assessment on the overburden of single-use plastics bio-medical wastes risks and management during COVID-19 pandemic in India

Interval-valued Fermatean fuzzy Dombi aggregation operators and SWARA based PROMETHEE II method to bio-medical waste management

Interval-valued Fermatean fuzzy Dombi aggregation operators and SWARA based PROMETHEE II method to bio-medical waste management

Knowledge, Attitude & Practice (KAP) among Staff Nurses Regarding Biomedical Waste Management (BMW): A Correlational Study Design

Background: The safe and effective management of biomedical waste generated in the hospital is a collective responsibility of all health workers involved in patient care. It is cardinal that the staff nurses must have up to date knowledge regarding handling and management of biomedical waste for the sake of both themselves and the patients. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice levels among staff nurses regarding biomedical waste management and to determine the relationship between knowledge, attitude and practice levels. Materials and Methods: The following study adopted a Correlational design. 100 staff nurses from selected hospitals in Kollam, Kerala were assigned using convenience sampling. The data was collected using a structured knowledge questionnaire, a five-point Likert attitude scale and a verbal response checklist. Results: Findings of the study revealed that the Spearman’s Rank Coefficient (Rho) ‘ρ’ calculated at 0.65** for finding the relationship between knowledge and attitude levels was statistically significant at P<0.01 level. Also, the ‘ρ’ value (0.59**) calculated between knowledge and practice levels was significant at 0.01 level. The Chi square (χ2) value calculated was statistically significant for Knowledge level and selected sociodemographic variables such as; Gender (χ2 18.56**, df=02, P<0.01 level) and Professional Experience (χ2 11.59*, df-04, p<0.05 level); Also, between professional experience and Attitude (6.44**) and professional experience and practice levels (10.17**). The Fisher’s exact test revealed association between Gender and Attitude (P# 0.016*, df=02, P<0.05 level) as well as Gender and Practice (P# 0.005**, df-01, P<0.01 level of significance). Conclusion: The findings confirmed that there was a medium/moderate positive correlation between knowledge and attitude as well as knowledge and practice levels regarding biomedical waste management among staff nurses. Keywords: KAP, BMW, Staff Nurses, Correlational Design.

Patterns of COVID-19 induced bio-medical waste management in Bangladesh: a case study of Chittagong port city

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate effective waste management practices and develop environment-friendly public health guidelines for the target audience. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 14 Upazilas of Chittagong Districts, where 200 community members were physically interviewed during the pandemic. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate statistical analyses were conducted. Results: The majority of respondents followed government guidelines for waste management, and plastic containers, poly bags, bio-hazard bags, and metal containers were commonly used to collect waste. The type of container used was significantly associated with the level of education among community members. Non-environmental materials were used to deposit and dispose of COVID-19-induced biomedical waste. The majority of respondents had poor practices regarding the disposal of biomedical waste and were unaware of the standard duration for the disposal of infectious waste. The level of education was associated with awareness of COVID-19 rules and regulations. The recording of COVID-19-induced biomedical waste was insufficient, and the most commonly used methods for treating biomedical waste were biological, thermal, and irradiation. Plastic containers were the most frequently used disposal method for waste during COVID-19, which is hazardous to both the environment and public health. Conclusions: Community-based BCC activities by engaging community stakeholders in disseminating and raising awareness of key behaviors related to the environment and public health that are impacted by the biomedical waste in the community setting.

A Fuzzy TOPSIS-Based Approach for Comprehensive Evaluation of Bio-Medical Waste Management: Advancing Sustainability and Decision-Making

Bio-medical waste management is critical for ensuring public health and environmental sustainability. However, due to the inherent ambiguities and complexities involved with waste characteristics and disposal techniques, measuring the efficiency of bio-medical waste management systems presents major hurdles. This study provides a Fuzzy TOPSIS-based (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) strategy for thorough bio-medical waste management assessment. The suggested method combines the benefits of fuzzy logic and TOPSIS, allowing for the incorporation of subjective judgments and ambiguity in the evaluation procedure. Initially, a thorough set of criteria is constructed based on a review of current literature and recommendations from experts, comprising Environmental Impact, Compliance with Regulations, Health and Safety, Technological Feasibility, and Cost-effectiveness. To accurately represent the inherent ambiguity and imprecision in decision-making, each criterion is evaluated using linguistic variables. Furthermore, the Fuzzy TOPSIS approach is used to rate various bio-medical waste management systems depending on how well they perform in comparison to the identified criteria. The language judgments are represented as fuzzy numbers, and the idea of closeness coefficients is used for calculating the relative distance between each alternative and the ideal answer. An investigation in a healthcare facility is performed to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the suggested strategy. To assess numerous waste management approaches, the study uses real-world data on waste management practices, expert opinions, and linguistic analyses. The study’s findings emphasize the benefits of using a Fuzzy TOPSIS-based technique to evaluate bio-medical waste management. According to the findings of this research study, recycling is the best choice because it has the potential to reduce waste, recover resources, and preserve the environment. It assists decision-makers to account for uncertainties and subjectivity, increases transparency and consistency in decision-making, and aids in choosing of the best waste management system. The proposed approach advances sustainable waste management practices in the bio-medical area and provides a helpful tool for policymakers and practitioners looking to enhance waste management systems.

Knowledge and attitude toward the practice of circular economy in conjunction with biomedical waste management among dental practitioners and technicians in Belagavi, India

Objectives: Circular economy promotes resource sustainability and has a positive impact on the environment. It helps in the sustainable use of biomedical waste (BMW) that is generated in dental care facilities and laboratories. This article assesses the knowledge and attitude toward the practice of circular economy in conjunction with BMW management among dental practitioners and technicians. Materials and Methods: This study adopted a cross-sectional design. Based on the findings from the pilot study, the sample size was estimated and 640 total participants were included. Reliability of the questionnaire comprising of 23 close-ended questions were assessed with Cronbach’s α value of 0.85, face validity of 84%, and content validity ratio of 0.78. Statistical Analysis: Data was analyzed using descriptive analysis, chi-square test, analysis of variance test, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression. Results: Mean overall knowledge score was highest among faculty (5.28 T 1.53) and least among technicians (1.88 T 0.84). There was a statistically significant difference in knowledge among the five groups (p < 0.001). Majority of the participants had a positive attitude toward circular economy; however, technicians had the least mean overall attitude scores (7.50 T 1.84). A positive linear correlation was seen between the knowledge and attitude scores. The dependence of various demographic variables on knowledge and attitude was found to be 46.1 and 11.6%, respectively. Conclusions: Dental faculty had significantly higher knowledge compared with other dental practitioners and technicians. However, knowledge on circular economy was below the optimal level among the participants, but all had predominantly favorable attitude toward circular economy.

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.

Effectiveness of Induction Training on Newly Joined Employee Knowledge and Hospital Performance.

Every organization needs well-trained employees to perform job activities effectively and efficiently. Training and development is a continuous process that helps to develop skills, knowledge, and abilities in its workers, which leads to better performance of employees. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of an induction training program for hospital employees as well as the impact on employee knowledge and performance in the clinical field according quality indicator benchmarks. A sample of individuals (N = 775) who were newly hired, promoted, or re-categorized at our institution in 2021 were included in the program. The effectiveness of the induction training program was assessed with a pre- and post-test and feedback form. Topics covered in the training program will help employees know about the institute and increase knowledge and skills. The average pre-test score was 60%, which increased to 84% after the training (p = 0.0001). There was a significantly positive relationship between the quality indicators and the clinical audit results (p = 0.006). The induction training program effectively improved the employees' knowledge regarding their rights and responsibilities as well as clinical knowledge (i.e., Infection control and prevention, quality, disaster management, biomedical waste management, and facility safety).

Current status of biomedical waste management practices and barriers among private Jordanian dental clinics: A cross-sectional investigation of the capital Amman.

Biomedical waste management (BMWM) is vital in facilitating safe providing of healthcare. Developing countries suffer from the impact of mishandled biomedical waste (BMW) on the general public in addition to healthcare practitioners. Thus, this study aims to investigate the awareness and compliance of dental facilities to BMW regulations. Through a questionnaire designed as per the WHO guidelines on BMWM, we randomly recruited a total of 421 dental facilities representative of Jordan's capital. Mean BMWM practice scores were relatively high for the studied sample (0.748 ± 0.12). Nonetheless, while collection, transportation and storage standards were acceptable, those pertaining to segregation and disposal demonstrated lack of compliance to BMWM safety measures. An alarming number of participants dispose of infectious waste (40%), extracted teeth (48.5%), expired pharmaceuticals (44.4%), liquid chemicals (53.2%), X-ray films (35.0%) and solutions (48.7%) in the general trash or draining system. Such is attributed to either lack of resources, lack of proper equipment or poor awareness with BMWM guidelines. Moreover, it appears that location of the clinic (p < 0.001), occupation (p = 0.026) and presence of regulatory instructions (p = 0.048) were associated with higher BMWM scores. Overall, dental practitioners require proper training in terms of handling hazardous dental, chemical and radioactive wastes. Moreover, regulatory bodies should actively enforce regulations and monitoring, update current compliance legislations and subsidize eco-friendly practices.

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.

Sustainable Management of Bio Medical Waste in Chennai: A case study

The aim of the current research article is to study various treatment techniques involved in the management of bio medical waste and select the most appropriate treatment method in terms of cost savings, energy recovery and waste volume reduction in a sustainable manner. Most of the HCF (Health Care Facilities) lacks the provision for on-site waste treatment facility. One of the major reasons might be the fear of high pollutant emission levels from multiple machines or equipment used in the treatment process. At times, it could be due to lack of sufficient space within the clinical premises. To overcome this situation, a minor amendment has to be introduced in the bio medical waste management rules 2016, which includes providing a suitable area necessary for medical waste treatment within the premises, during the construction stage itself. Further, the identification of appropriate treatment techniques based on the type of waste generated is also important. Even a primary HCF too should be equipped with the requisite treatment facilities, considering the emission levels to be within the standards. This sort of installing an on-site waste treatment facility will reduce the amount spent upon external agencies for disposal and treatment of the medical waste. Then, the leftover residue is securely landfilled in the dedicated site or even be liable to mix with the municipal solid garbage. The current study concludes that the implementation of one of the treatment techniques in a specific hospital helps in energy recovery, huge reduction in the volume of waste generation and avoids illegal dumping of the waste, thereby creating less impact on the surrounding environment.

Knowledge of Biomedical Waste Management Amidst the Clinical Students of Dental College, Tamilnadu State, India - A Cross Sectional Observational Study.

The objective of study was to assess the knowledge and awareness of the management of biological waste (BMW) among undergraduate students of Dental College, Tamilnadu state. Among the students of Dental College in Tamilnadu state, India, a cross-sectional observational research was conducted. A pre-designed questionnaire was distributed to the students. Their expertise and awareness of managing biomedical waste were the variables that were investigated. One hundred and eighty students were participated. The male to female ratio was 1:2, and the average age of responders was 19.76 ± 1.03 years. When it comes to information concerning the management of biomedical waste, an average of 60.33% were correct and 39.57% were incorrect. For their knowledge of the same, 81.35% were correct and 18.65% were incorrect. The findings indicated that students had a high degree of knowledge and understanding regarding the management of biomedical waste.

Knowledge of Staff Nurses on Health Hazards related to Biomedical Waste Disposal in a Tertiary Care Hospital.

The study aimed to assess staff nurses' knowledge of the health concerns connected with biomedical waste disposal. The descriptive study was performed with a sample of 50 staff nurses from a tertiary hospital. The semi-structured questionnaire was made to be used when interviewing participants. It has information about the person's age in years, religion, monthly family income, family type, marital status, previous biomedical waste management education exposure, and the source of information. Participants were between the ages of 20 and 60. Only five 20-30-year olds are moderately knowledgeable. Out of 50 nurses, 41 (82%) had an adequate level of knowledge, 9 (18%) had a moderate level of knowledge on biomedical waste management, and none of them had too inadequate knowledge. The proper handling of biomedical waste necessitates that all hospital staff undergo extensive training on the collection, sorting, transportation, and storage of waste in color-coded bins before disposal and treatment.

Multi-functional fluorinated NiTiO3 perovskites for CO2 photocatalytic reduction, electrocatalytic water splitting, and biomedical waste management

Multi-functional F-doped NiTiO3 structures with high stability were prepared by a template-free hydrothermal method. A multi-technique approach including several physicochemical techniques was employed to describe the morphology, electronic properties, and structural characters. The F-doped NiTiO3 catalyst showed a much higher CO2 to CH4 photocatalytic conversion rate (2.6 μmol g−1 h−1) than pristine NiTiO3 (1.6 μmol g−1 h−1), highlighting the key role of F impurities in suppressing the charge carriers recombination. In addition to the higher efficiency and reusability than Pt/C reference electrode toward electrocatalytic water splitting, a lower Tafel slope was recorded for the F-doped structure (81.2 mV dec−1). This implies significant improvement in the reaction kinetics, arising from the synergistic effects between the F sites and bulk constituents to supply more desired active electronic states. The capability of the structures for the biomedical wastewater (containing the Caco-2 cancer cells) treatment was also explored. According to several biochemical assays, the fluorinated material shows a promising performance against the tumor cells at its IC50 concentration, 0.15 μg/mL, in a typical hospital wastewater. Our results pave the way for developing novel multi-functional photoactive titanate perovskites aiming at future clean energy transition.

Assessment of Biomedical Waste Management Practices and Paramedical Staff Knowledge and Attitude at Healthcare Facilities in Lahore, Pakistan

Healthcare waste refers different natures of wastes, biological, and non-biological which are useless&amp; do not desired to re-use again. Healthcare (Biomedical) waste can be defined that all waste generates from healthcare settings. Objective: To analyze the awareness, attitudes &amp; Para medical’s work practically related to the management of BMW at Public, Private, DHQ and THQ Hospitals, RHC and BHU of Lahore, Punjab. Methods: The methodology was cross-sectional and consisted on the data (survey based) and talk to the heads of the Institutions, persons concerned with waste (handling and transportation). The data about medical waste management were taken from ten HCFs. Results: The results showed that &lt;50% has knowledge about categories, color coding and different wastes that are not included in Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016. Attitude shows good results. &gt;50% has faulty practice regarding bio medical waste. The findings about the awareness &amp; practice about the management of waste among Intern Nurses and sanitary workers were poor, periodic training and their evaluation is mandatory for better outcome. Total percentage of the knowledge items was 57%. The attitude percentage was 44%. The overall level of practice was considered unsafe because only 9.4% respondent who practice always during waste management. Conclusions: Research revealed the improper practices, irregularities, and shortcomings in the overall system of the WM. The study found inconsistencies during waste management in hospitals are generally because of low amount of financial resources, poor awareness &amp; trainings at the administrative level.

Bio-medical waste management practices of personal protective equipments pre and post Covid -19: A cross-sectional study

: Covid-19 pandemic and the influx of polypropylene Personal Protective Equipments have created a new challenge in segregation and disposal of plastics. The general guidelines for disposal and segregation during the pre-covid period has emphasised recycling.Objective Our aim was to find out whether the PPE kits were adequately recycled during the pandemic and whether any toxic fumes were produced while incinerating them, resulting in any environmental hazard.: We collected the data on Bio-medical waste disposed in the entire Kerala state from 2017 to 2022. It was divided into pre-covid and covid-relaxation period. The amount of biomedical waste recycled and incinerated were measured and compared. The amount of new cases and its correlation to recycling and incineration was done. The stack emission data during pre-covid and covid-relaxation period was collected and compared.Our results showed that during the covid-relaxation years there was a significant increase in incineration as compared to the pre-covid years. The incineration was much more when compared to recycling. Fortunately the stack emission didn’t show any toxic fumes and environmental hazards.: We concluded that recycling of PPE was not adequate during covid-19 pandemic. Health care system should take more steps to be compliant with national guidelines. Awareness has to be made to decrease in the use of these disposable materials and shift to more eco-friendly materials or reusable materials.