Infectious biomedical waste (also called biohazardous waste) is produced by diagnostics, follow-up and preventive, curative or palliative treatment in human and veterinary medicine.
« This waste contains viable micro-organisms or their toxins, which are known or reliably believed to cause due to their nature, quantity, or metabolism, disease in humans or other living organisms » (article R. 1335-1 of the French Public Health Code).
Potentially infectious biomedical waste systematically destroyed by the waste management process includes:
- Sharp objects, i.e. cutting or sharp-edged materials, after use, which may or may not have come into contact with a biological product;
- Blood bottles for therapeutic use incompletely used or reached the use-by date, blood collection tubes, drainage devices;
- In general, all health care supplies or objects contaminated by (or containing) blood or another biological fluids (pleural, peritoneal, pericardial, amniotic, synovial and other such fluids);
- Waste originating from embalming activities;
- Human anatomical waste corresponding to any part of the human body not easily identifiable by a non-specialist;
- Specific laboratory waste (cell cultures, samples);
- Independently of the concept of infectious hazards, all health care material strongly associated with health care and that may have an emotional/psychological impact: syringes, tubing, probes, catheters, drains, gloves, etc.
Due to its nature and the risk of infection it presents, biohazardous waste includes waste that poses a risk to life. Humans can be exposed to biological agents contained in medical waste by:
- Punctures/cuts (contaminated syringes, needles, scalpels);
- Skin-mucous contact/projection of blood or biological fluids;
- Inhalation of contaminated particles (bioaerosols) or ingestion.
For example, a puncture with an object contaminated with blood could transmit viruses such as AIDS or hepatitis B.
» Reducing the risk of infection thus requires:
- Strict management of medical waste disposal;
- Control of hygiene and safety throughout all stages of the waste disposal process.
| CODE |
DESCRIPTION OF WASTE CATEGORY |
TREATABLE BY STERIPLUSTM |
| 18 01 |
WASTE FROM NATAL CARE, DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT OR PREVENTION OF DISEASE IN HUMANS |
|
| 18 01 01 |
Sharps (except 18 01 03*) |
YES |
| 18 01 02 |
Body parts and organs including blood bags and blood preserves (except 18 01 03) |
according to local regulations |
| 18 01 03* |
Wastes whose collection and disposal is subject to special requirements in order to prevent infection |
YES |
| 18 01 04 |
Wastes whose collection and disposal is not subject to special requirements in order to prevent infection (for example dressings, plaster casts, linen, disposable clothing, diapers) |
YES |
| 18 01 06* |
Chemicals consisting of or containing hazardous substances |
NO |
| 18 01 07 |
Chemicals other than those mentioned in 18 01 06* |
NO |
| 18 01 08* |
Cytotoxic and cytostatic medicines |
NO |
| 18 01 09 |
Medicines other than those mentioned in 18 01 08* |
NO |
| 18 01 10* |
Amalgam waste from dental care |
NO |
| 18 02 |
WASTES FROM RESEARCH, DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT OR PREVETENTION OF DESEASE INVOLVING ANIMALS |
|
| 18 02 01 |
Sharps (except 18 02 02*) |
YES |
| 18 02 02* |
Wastes whose collection and disposal is subject to special requirements in order to prevent infection |
YES |
| 18 02 03 |
Wastes whose collection and disposal is not subject to special requirements in order to prevent infection |
YES |
| 18 02 05* |
Chemicals consisting of or containing hazardous substances |
NO |
| 18 02 06 |
Chemicals other than those mentioned in 18 02 05* |
NO |
| 18 02 07* |
Cytotoxic and cytostatic medicines |
NO |
| 18 02 08 |
Medicines other than those mentioned in 18 02 07* |
NO |
Medical waste that can be treated by STERIPLUSTM includes :
- 18 01 01
- 18 01 02
- 18 01 03
- 18 02 01
- …
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