Department of Community Medicine, Medicinal and Natural Products Chemistry Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Waste Manag Res. 2012 Jun;30(6):631-4. doi: 10.1177/0734242X11413330. Epub 2011 Oct 10.
Clinical laboratories are significant generators of infectious waste, including microbiological materials, contaminated sharps, and pathologic wastes such as blood specimens and blood products. Most waste produced in laboratories can be disposed of in the general solid waste stream. However, improper management of infectious waste, including mixing general wastes with infectious wastes and improper handling or storage, could lead to disease transmission. The aim of this study was to assess waste management processes used at clinical laboratories in Shiraz, Iran. One hundred and nine clinical laboratories participated In this cross sectional study, Data collection was by questionnaire and direct observation. Of the total amount of waste generated, 52% (by weight) was noninfectious domestic waste, 43% was non-sharps infectious waste and 5% consisted of sharps. There was no significant relationship between laboratory staff or manager education and the score for quality of waste collection and disposal at clinical laboratories. Improvements in infectious waste management processes should involve clearer, more uniformly accepted definitions of infectious waste and increased staff training.
临床实验室是传染性废物的重要产生者，包括微生物材料、污染的锐器以及血液标本和血液制品等病理废物。实验室产生的大多数废物可以在普通固体废物流中处理。然而，传染性废物管理不当，包括将一般废物与传染性废物混合以及处理或储存不当，可能导致疾病传播。本研究旨在评估伊朗设拉子临床实验室使用的废物管理流程。109 家临床实验室参与了这项横断面研究，数据收集采用问卷和直接观察的方式。在产生的总废物量中，52%（按重量计）是非传染性的家庭废物，43%是非锐器传染性废物，5%由锐器组成。实验室工作人员或管理人员的教育程度与临床实验室废物收集和处理质量评分之间没有显著关系。改善传染性废物管理流程应包括更清晰、更一致地接受传染性废物的定义，并加强员工培训。
