Assessment of medical waste management in Karaj hospitals, Iran

Type Journal Article - International Research Journal of Applied and Basic Sciences
Title Assessment of medical waste management in Karaj hospitals, Iran
Author(s)
Volume 9
Issue 10
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2015
Page numbers 1750-1757
URL http://www.irjabs.com/files_site/paperlist/r_2755_150917111645.pdf
Abstract
In some countries, especially in developing countries such as Iran, medical wastes are not
properly managed. Proper medical waste management decreases the risk of spreading infections,
environmental hazards and public health risks. In recent years, environmental regulatory agencies and
waste producers have tried to reach appropriate medical waste management plans.The main purpose of
this study was to investigate different aspects of the current status of medical waste management such as
generation, segregation and collection, storage, treatment, training and education and sewagein all
hospitals of Karaj city.The method of this research was based on a questionnaire consisted ofseven
sections, such as hospital general information, waste amount, separation, collection, temporary storage,
hospital sewage and waste management workshop for workers and personnel. The results showed that
the average occupancy percentage of each bed in Karaj hospitals was 78.39%. The quantity of medical
waste generated by these hospitals was 6080.05 kg/day.The average generation rate of total waste was
4.037 kg/ bed-day. The generation rates of hazardous-infectious wastes, municipal wastes and sharp
wastes were 2.321 kg/bed-day, 1.7 kg/ bed-day, 0.015 kg/ bed-day, respectively. The percentages of
hazardous-infectious, municipal and sharp wastes were 57.50%, 42.13% and 0.37% respectively. All
hospitals used proper separation and labeling waste containers/bags. All hospitals had a location for their
waste temporary storage, 63.63% of these locations were isolated. Most of the hospitals (72.72%) treated
their wastes, especially with autoclaving. Although, the current system of medical waste management in
Karaj city is in a proper situation, it needs further improvement

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