Infectious Waste Research Articles

ANALYSIS OF INFECTIOUS MEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT IMPLICATION ON SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC - CASE STUDY OF ŠUMADIJA DISTRICT (REPUBLIC OF SERBIA)

Agriculture is the world’s most important industry. According to the structure, Šumadija district is mainly composed of arable land and gardens, which make up 69%. The increased amount of COVID-19 waste generated from medical activities in rural areas needs to be properly handled due to its contagious, even lethal properties. The aim of this study is an analysis of two drivers through the generation of COVID-19 waste, Central and local treatment site, proposed transport routes, and total cost in Šumadija district. Results showed the economic costs of transportation increased 2.5 times compared to before and after the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, the increase in health risk was correlated to the increase in the per capita cost of transportation along the transportation routes. Analyses of human health risks and detailed financial calculations gave a clear insight in infectious waste management possible influence on agriculture.

Solutions to remedy meaningful environmental aspects according to Iso 14001:2015 standards at General Van Phuc 2 Hospital

Van Phuc 2 General Hospital is one of the hospitals that is always concerned about environmental protection in medical checkups and treatment. However to affirm and enhance the prestige is a regional hospital in the region, step by step approaching the hospitals around the world. Therefore, the subject "Proposing solutions to remedy meaningful environmental aspects at Van Phuc 2 General Hospital" is important to building a sustainable hospital development image. The subject focuses on the plan to develop the environmental management system by ISO 14001: 2015 based on the current management status of the hospital. By the 3P and 4T methods, the criteria and methods of analysis and field survey were identified, There were five Environmental aspects at the hospital by followings: smells, dust, exhaustion, wastewater, infectious waste, and clinic waste. In addition, the subject also establishes objectives, environmental criteria, planning, resource-building procedures, communication systems, document systems, etc., to complete the environmental management system by ISO 14001: 2015 for the hospital. At the same time make recommendations to help the hospital comply with all requirements when building an Environmental Management System.

Assessment of Healthcare Solid Waste Composition, Generation and its Management: the case of Two Hospitals of Shashemene Town, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Hazardous wastes from Hospitals could pose a threat to the health of healthcare workers, the general public, and the environment unless managed properly. The study aimed to appraise the healthcare waste (HCW) composition, generation rate and the prevailing management practices in two Hospitals (a Private and a Government-owned) of Shashemene Town, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study involving Direct Observation, Key Informant Interview, Questionnaire survey and Weighting Scale was conducted to evaluate the current HCW management practices and to quantify the HCW generation rate. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. The mean generation rates of HCW were 45.2 ± 5.8kg day–1 (0.20kgbed‒1day‒1) and 20 ± 2.4 kg day–1 (0.19kg bed‒1day‒1) from Government Hospital(GH) and Private Hospital (PH), respectively. Of the total solid waste generated, over half(GH: 53.3%; PH: 57.1%) constituted general waste (GW), and the remaining (GH: 46.7%; PH: 42.9%) comprised hazardous waste (HW), which exceeded the WHO threshold(10‒25%) intimates the lack of poor waste segregation. There were significant variations between the hospital wards regarding GW (GH: χ2 = 31; P < 0.001; PH:χ2 = 13; P <0.01), HW (GH: χ2 = 25; P < 0.001; PH: χ2 = 10; P < 0.01), and total HCW (GH: χ2 = 46; P < 0.01; PH: χ2 = 22; P < 0.01). Besides, significant differences were observed between the mean total HCW (χ2 = 9.016; P < 0.01), GW (χ2 = 9.8; P < 0.01), and the HW (χ2 =5.011, P < 0.05) of the hospitals. Segregation of wastes and pre-treatment of infectious wastes were not properly practiced, and single-chamber incinerators was the most utilized treatment method indicating poor management of the HCW. The study establishes that the little attention is given to medical waste management which primarily proceeds from a lack of due implementation of the national healthcare wastes management guideline/directive at the healthcare facility level. If the poor healthcare solid waste management is not properly addressed at the study hospitals, human (healthcare workers, waste handlers, patients, and nearby community) and environmental health risk will be within the bounds of possibility.

Improving the Environmental Effects of Nosocomial Infectious Effluents by Using Disposable Suction Liner Bags

Goal: Environmental protection is a key issue, and improper disposal of infectious fluids poses irreparable risks to human health and the environment. Infectious waste is any waste that is generated during a diagnostic process, treatment, or research activities that include biological experiments. The management of infectious waste is as vital as its disposal. therefore, it is necessary to use products such as disposable suction bags that collect infectious fluids and prevent them from spreading to the surrounding environment. In this article, we will investigate the issue of nosocomial infections and the methods of preventing the spread of this infection, as well as the management of infectious waste using the new method (disposable suction liner bag) and the old method (permanent suction canisters). Methods: The study was conducted by the AHP Method model, which is one of the multi-criteria decision-making methods and analyzes the evaluation of parameters quantitatively and qualitatively; also, to use this method and evaluations, Expert Choice software has been used. Results: It is clear in this study that permanent suction canisters cause hospital infections, increase medical centers' costs, and increase hospitals' infectious waste, which costs 10 to 15 times more than other waste due to its infectiousness. Also, the use of disposable suction liner bags not only reduces and controls hospital infections but also reduces the costs of disposal and disposal of infectious waste and treatment of infectious wastes, as well as saving water, electricity, and human resources. Conclusion: The results of this study allow managers and officials of hospitals and medical centers to know which type of suction canisters to use to improve the level of hospital control and to be familiar with the advantages, disadvantages, risks, and environmental risks caused by suction canisters. to make the best decision in this regard.

Reducing the Environmental and Economic Costs of Single-Department Infectious Waste Disposal

PurposeThe aim of this study was to demonstrate the efficacy of zero-cost interventions on the reduction of infectious waste (IW) stream production in interventional radiology (IR). MethodsThis quality improvement initiative was developed using needs identification through department-wide meetings with IR stakeholders (physicians, nurses, and radiologic technologists). Department leadership identified and implemented two interventions to reduce disposal of noninfectious waste (NIW) in the IW stream. First, hospital waste management provided focused education for sorting IW versus NIW to IR staff members. Next, the number of IW bins was reduced, and the IW bins were strategically placed on the perimeter of the room. Radiologic technologists tracked IW and NIW bags per case for 25 case days before the intervention and 175 case days after the intervention. A run chart was created to visualize change over time. Wilcoxon rank sum and signed rank tests were performed to evaluate the difference in IW and NIW bags per case before and after the intervention. A goal of significant reduction in NIW stream production was set. ResultsBefore the intervention, the production of IW and NIW bags per case was similar (median, 1.0 [interquartile range (IQR), 0.86-1.31] vs 1.1 [IQR, 0.86-1.40]; P = .20). After the intervention, IW bags per case decreased (median, 1.0 [IQR, 0.86-1.31] vs 0.05 [IQR, 0.00-0.13]; P < .001). Fewer IW bags than NIW bags were produced per case after the intervention (median, 0.05 [IQR, 0.00-0.13] vs 1.53 [IQR, 1.30-1.76]; P < .001). ConclusionsZero-cost interventions, including focused education, stakeholder engagement, and strategic placement of waste bins, can significantly reduce the environmental and economic impact of waste produced in IR.

An Overview of Dental Solid Waste Management and Associated Environmental Impacts: A Materials Perspective

Dental healthcare plays an important role in the overall health of individuals, and the sector is rapidly growing around the world due to increases in population, healthcare facilities, and improved access for economically weaker sections of society. Dental procedures and oral care generate a significant amount of biomedical waste that should be managed in an environmentally safe and sustainable manner. An overview is presented of the current status of dental solid waste management with a focus on waste composition from traditional and emerging dental treatments, new-generation dental materials, waste treatment procedures, and current options. Dental waste can be broadly divided into three categories: infectious waste, non-infectious waste, and domestic-type waste. Infectious waste contains materials contaminated with blood or other infectious mouth fluids, amalgam, and sharps, whereas non-infectious dental waste is devoid of human fluid contamination but can be potentially toxic due to the presence of amalgams, acids, metal dust, resins, etc. Suspended particulates in dental wastewater are another likely source of contamination. Appropriate segregation of this waste is essential for containing infections during waste processing. New-generation dental materials, such as nanomaterials, resin-based composites, and ceramics, are finding increasing applications in a variety of dental procedures as antimicrobial, restorative, and therapeutic agents. While incineration and landfilling have been used for processing traditional dental waste, the presence of novel materials in dental waste raises several additional concerns. Novel single/multistage recycling approaches need to be developed for dental waste towards resource recovery, thus minimizing incineration and landfilling to the extent possible.

A data-driven digital transformation approach for reverse logistics optimization in a medical waste management system

COVID-19's aftereffects have had a significant impact on our daily lives. The recent pandemic caused by the new coronavirus epidemic has increased the production of infectious medical waste (IMW) and demand for medical care and protective equipment. Although national and local initiatives are primarily concerned with saving lives and bolstering local economies, hazardous waste management is essential for reducing long-term human and environmental health threats. In this situation, establishing a dependable and efficient reverse logistics network of IMW can prevent the spread of viruses. Few studies have been conducted on this topic and those that have rarely considered how to operate a network of multiple medical waste generation centres (MWGCs) cost-effectively and risk-averse. This study proposes a framework for reducing the accumulation of IMW products using reverse logistics in the context of medical waste management. The optimal values of the multiple objective functions were determined using a multi-objective optimization model. Our proposed framework considers four objective functions and their respective constraints while using data-driven digital transformation in reverse logistics energy optimization for managing single-use medical waste.

Adaptive Multi-Objective Algorithm for the Sustainable Electric Vehicle Routing Problem in Medical Waste Management

This paper addresses the complex issue of managing medical waste transportation using electric vehicles, with the goal of minimizing both energy consumption and the risks associated with hazardous waste. A multi-objective mixed-integer linear programming model is introduced, incorporating practical factors such as time windows, partial recharge policy, load-dependent discharge, infection risk, and trips to waste disposal facilities. Our proposed method, a combination of the multi-objective evolutionary algorithm using decomposition (MOEA/D) with adaptive large neighborhood search (ALNS) and local search (LS) techniques, is referred to as MOEA/D-ALNS. This method demonstrates superior performance compared with the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm, NSGA-II, modified MOEA/D and MOEA/D-LNS in benchmark instances with realistic assumptions. Our experimental results revealed an inverse correlation between energy consumption and risk objectives. Sensitivity analyses showed that eliminating time-window constraints results in more energy-efficient and safer routes while maintaining a slightly lower battery energy level can strike an ideal balance between energy consumption, risk, and battery health. This research contributes to the understanding of infectious medical waste management with its consideration of electric vehicles and waste disposal. It lays a solid foundation for future studies aiming to improve the sustainability and efficiency of medical waste routing practices.

Beyond the Frontlines: Assessing PPE Waste Disposal in Lahore's Major Public Hospitals During COVID-19 and its Environmental Consequences

The COVID-19 pandemic spread around the world like fire in a forest. Many preventative measures were suggested, among which one was the use of PPE. PPE was already being used in hospitals to prevent the spread of contagious diseases. The current pandemic led to an enormous increase in PPE usage, both in hospitals and domestic circuits. However, it has been observed that PPE waste is not being handled and administered appropriately in some major hospitals in Lahore, Pakistan. This mishandling can lead to the rapid spread of diseases, more specifically, the current pandemic, COVID-19. Our study aimed to describe the management of PPE waste in public hospitals. The data was collected by direct and indirect observations of staff in the hospital, including the ones in administration, and the way they managed the waste. The condition of infectious waste in the waste depots of hospitals was also observed and noted. It was observed that not all the hospitals were following the guidelines provided by the WHO about PPE waste. Segregation, storage and transportation were below Pakistan’s biosafety rules for 2015 and WHO standards. It could lead to many health and environmental problems. Our study highlights the need for staff training regarding segregation and the proper storage and disposal of hospitals' waste. Certain recommendations in this regard have also been reported to put a stop to the issue of PPE waste and its drastic consequences for the environment.

Assessing the impact of a waste incinerator on the environment using the MAIAC-AOD and AERMOD models

The distribution and concentration of air pollutants from infectious waste incineration between 2019 and 2021 were examined in this study using an AERMOD model, including sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NOx), and particulate matter (PM2.5). The MAIAC-AOD value at a 1 km resolution was used to develop a regression model with meteorological information for predicting PM2.5, which was then compared with the concentration from the AERMOD simulation. The following maximum 1-h, 24-h, and annual average concentrations of all pollutants were found to have occurred in 2019. The distribution of SO2 and NOx in 1 h was largest in 2020 at 1,000 m to the northwest, with concentrations of 37.68 and 93.99 μg/m3, respectively. The 24-h concentrations of SO2 and NOx were greatest in 2021 at 3.63 and 8.90 μg/m3, respectively, 720 m northeast of the stack. The annual concentrations of SO2 and NOx were highest in 2019 at 0.56 and 1.36 μg/m3, respectively. The highest annual PM2.5 concentration was 0.033 μg/m3, 730 m to the northeast in 2019. The predicted PM2.5 using MAIAC-AOD correlated with the simulated value from AERMOD, with R2 values of 0.7630, 0.7607, and 0.6504 for 2019, 2020, and 2021, respectively, which were higher closer to the stack than outside. As a result, investigations into the distribution of air pollution should benefit from the integration of air modeling and satellite information.

Socio-environmental sustainability and Upcycling of health service waste towards sustainability: Reuse of Spundbond Meltblown Spundbond (SMS)

This work aimed to define the steps for the Safe Capture of postconsumer Spundbond Meltblow Spundbond (SMS) non-woven fabric, and to estimate the generation of this material providing conditions for new uses through upcycling in a Surgical Center of a public hospital for means of application in socio-environmental projects. This is a descriptive, exploratory longitudinal study with a quantitative approach. As a result, a proposition was obtained for a new separation system for specific medical waste that is difficult to recycle, called Safe Capture in the Operating Room, as well as the implementation of SMS reuse in new products developed through upcycling, such as ecobags for make available to patients at the University Hospital of Londrina- HU. With the estimated generation of 140.89 grams per surgery or 18 SMS blankets of different sizes, the possibility of planning a storage infrastructure for this material for use in socio-environmental projects was envisaged through the development of products based on upcycling with focus on the circular economy, in this case reported and already implemented, the creative sewing workshop in partnership with the State Penitentiary of Londrina-PEL 02 where 3000 ecobags are made per month to store the belongings of patients, which caused a reduction of a portion of waste that would go to the infectious waste collector and, at the same time, replaced the use of plastic bags with ecobags, reducing costs. Currently, the possibility of using SMS has been expanded to other application niches such as interior design and the pet market, in partnership with the Veterinary Hospital of the State University of Londrina, which will revert part of the income from sales of pet products so that the Muda Project have a self-management for the purchase of new equipment and trimmings for the manufacture of products.

Healthcare waste from clinical analysis laboratories in São Tomé and Príncipe – Current state and constrains in the framework of least developed countries

Laboratories of clinical analysis are essential to the diagnosis of many diseases but also generate waste that is a potential risk to humans and the environment, especially in the context of least developed countries with structural impediments. The main objective of the work was to assess the current state of waste management from clinical analysis laboratories in Sao Tomé and Príncipe (STP) and to propose suggestions to increase environmental and social sustainability.Data was collected by interviews between March and April 2022. Waste from clinical analysis laboratories reaches 123.7 t/year (0.35% of waste in the country). Critical issues are: pre-treatment to prevent biological contamination is carried out in 50% of the laboratories; at 93% of the sites, the staff does not have proper training; 43% of the laboratories do not have a dedicated space for storing the waste; 79% of the laboratories only segregate sharp-objects, 14% segregate infectious waste and 7% have no source-segregation. Sharp waste is incinerated, while other waste is dumped or buried (93% of laboratories) or is burned in pits on the ground (7%).Most of the waste produced in clinical analysis laboratories in STP is disposed and treated in an inappropriate manner, likely resulting in soil, water and air pollution that impact on human health. Critical issues that have been identified at STP are likely found also in other least developed countries and need addressing in the path towards sustainable development goals.

APLIKASI PENGELOLAAN LIMBAH RADIOAKTIF BERBASIS ANDROID DI KEDOKTERAN NUKLIR RSUP DR. KARIADI

The utilization of ionizing radiation sources for diagnostics and therapy, such as radioactive substances, including radionuclides and radiopharmaceuticals, generates radioactive waste. This radioactive waste poses potential radiation hazards for workers, members of the public, and the environment. Therefore, it is crucial to manage it correctly by established regulations. Radioactive waste resulting from the utilization of Nuclear Medicine varies in terms of activity value and mass, necessitating different storage times and appropriate management. Considering these factors, this study aims to develop an Android-based application called 'Si Mbah KeCE Kariadi' (Kalkulasi Limbah Kedokteran-Nuklir Cepat dan Efektif di RSUP Dr. Kariadi) for the management of low and medium-level open radioactive waste in Nuclear Medicine. This application aims to estimate when radioactive waste can be released before being discharged to the hospital's sanitation department. The research method employed in this study involves applying the principles of radioactive waste management, specifically the decay of activity. The radioactive waste release calculator application is generated by utilizing the radioactive decay equation derived from measuring the initial radioactive waste radiation exposure rate using a survey meter radiation measuring instrument and referencing the clearance level value to estimate the release time of the radioactive waste. The evaluation of this application indicates that the radiation exposure value of the radioactive waste is equivalent to the background radiation level at its release, suggesting that it can be disposed of in the hospital sanitation department for further management as infectious waste from patients. Keywords: radioactive waste management, activity decay, application of android, nuclear medicine, clearance level.

Biomedical waste management: assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice among health care workers

Background: The waste produced in healthcare activities carries a high potential for infection and injury than any other type of waste. Inadequate knowledge of biomedical waste (BMW) management can lead to serious health consequences and an adverse impact on environment. The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of BMW management among healthcare workers of government T. D. medical college, Alappuzha. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among staff and students of government T. D. medical college, Alappuzha. Stratified sampling was done and data was collected using semi structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 26 software. Results: The majority of faculty and nurses had good knowledge about segregation of waste into yellow and red coded bags. Nurses, students and residents had good knowledge about waste disposal into white coded containers whereas into blue coded containers was seen in lesser proportion among all categories of health care workers. All the nurses and majority of the faculty had corrected attitude towards BMW management. Assessment of practice revealed that 50% of the nurses practiced proper BMW management and the proportion was much lower among all other categories of health care workers. Conclusions: Knowledge about infectious plastic waste and sharp waste disposal was low among students and faculty respectively. Knowledge about metallic and glassware disposal was low among all categories of health care workers. Attitude towards BMW management was low among students and residents and its practice was inadequate among all categories of health care workers.

Effectiveness of Preventive Nursing Program for Multidrug-Resistant Organism Transmission: A Quasi-experimental Study

Multidrug-resistant organism infections are a major public health problem. Promoting nurses’ practice in preventing multidrug-resistant infections can reduce hospital transmission. This quasi-experimental study investigated the effectiveness of a preventive nursing program for multidrug-resistant organism transmission. The study was carried out in the Department of Internal Medicine in a tertiary hospital in south Thailand. Participants in this study were registered nurses. Two wards were randomly selected as the experimental ward and two as the control ward, then participants from each ward were purposively selected. Finally, there were 60 participants, n = 31 from the experiment wards and n = 29 from the control wards. The experimental group received a 4-week program, whereas the control group followed the usual practice. Then, the practices in preventing multidrug-resistant organism transmission of the experimental and control groups were assessed 4 and 12 weeks after the program ended. The instruments for data collection included a demographic data form and a preventive practice observation form. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a chi-square test. The results showed that, at 4 and 12 weeks after completion of the program, nurses in the experimental group had a significantly higher proportion of correct practices (hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment, patient placement, patient transport, patient care equipment management, environmental management, and linen and infectious waste management of multidrug-resistant organism transmission) than before receiving the program and in the control group. The findings suggest that the program effectively improves nurses’ correct practices in preventing multidrug-resistant organism transmission. The program can be applied to promote and support preventive practices among nurses. However, long-term follow-ups with the incidence of multidrug-resistant organism transmission should be further studied. In addition, as this study was conducted with nurses working in the internal medicine wards of a tertiary hospital, it is necessary to evaluate the program's effectiveness with different samples prior to its widerimplementation.

Research on Optimization of Medical Waste Emergency Disposal Transportation Network for Public Health Emergencies in the Context of Intelligent Transportation

In order to build a more comprehensive emergency disposal and transportation network system for medical waste, it is necessary to consider various uncertain factors and data characteristics. Therefore, in the context of intelligent transportation, this article considers the uncertainty of the quantity and regional population density of infectious medical waste generation as well as the emergency disposal of infectious medical waste under multi-cycle and multi-objective conditions, and it constructs a multi-cycle emergency disposal logistics network optimization model for infectious medical waste under uncertain conditions. Through deterministic transformation of the model and data mining of the medical waste disposal logistics network in Wuhan, China, the multi-objective model under uncertain conditions was also solved and sensitivity analyzed using the MOPSO-NSGA2 intelligent algorithm, verifying the effectiveness and superiority of the algorithm.

A new fuzzy bi-objective mixed-integer linear programming for designing a medical waste management network in the Coronavirus epidemic: a case study

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic has increased medical assistance and service demand, necessitating the development of a comprehensive model for managing medical waste networks. Despite extensive research, there is a lack of models examining infectious and hazardous waste simultaneously. This paper presents a multi-layered bi-objective mixed-integer linear program model, dividing infectious and non-infectious waste into different categories. The model consists of several stages for safe recycling of medical waste. Fuzzy programming and an augmented-constraint approach are employed to tackle uncertainty in parameters. A real case study from Tehran is examined, and numerical and computational results are provided to prove the model’s efficiency. The results indicate that insufficient disposal centers may require increasing their capacity.

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.

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.

Gambaran Pengelolaan Limbah Medis Padat pada Klinik Bidan Praktik Mandiri di Kecamatan Lempuing Kabupaten Ogan Komering Ilir Tahun 2023

WHO said that in 2010, unsafe injections still caused as many as 33,800 new HIV infections, 1.7 million hepatitis B infections, and 315,000 hepatitis C infections. Independent Practice Midwife Clinics are one source of solid medical waste generation. Knowledge of solid medical waste management at independent practicing midwife clinics in Lempuing District, Ogan Komering Ilir Regency in 2023. Research This type of research is descriptive research. This research was conducted in March-May 2023. The population in this study were all 38 independent practicing midwife clinics. The sample is total sampling, namely all independent practicing midwife clinics. The data collection tool is a checklist sheet. Variable sorting, container, storage, and transportation. Data analysis using Univariate Analysis. Sorting 38 (100%) fulfilled the requirements, containers for labeling infectious waste 8 (22%) and pharmaceutical 13 (44%), container grouping for infectious 15 (40%) and pharmaceutical 30 (70%) did not meet the requirements. Storage contained 23 (59%) separate rooms, 8 (21%) covered packaging, and 20 (53%) identity labeled packaging did not meet the requirements. Transportation 11 (29%) did not carry out transportation. by concluding that 38 (100%) have done proper sorting, for containers that have not been labeled infectious waste 8 (22%) and pharmaceutical 13 (44%), there is no separate storage room 23 (59%), there is the packaging does not have a cover 8 (21%), the packaging does not have an identity label 20 (53%). Transportation 11 (29%) did not carry out the transportation be consistent in carrying out proper sorting, more complete facilities, especially in terms of container and storage, and know how to process and transport medical waste properly and correctly.