Hlako Tshepiso K, Morodi Thabiso J, Mokoena Matodzi M, Molelekwa Gomotsegang F
Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Science, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa.
Regional Water and Environmental Sanitation Centre, Department of Civil Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
Health SA. 2025 Mar 18;30:2845. doi: 10.4102/hsag.v30i0.2845. eCollection 2025.
This study presents the emerging practices of healthcare waste (HCW) management prevailing in most private surgeries within the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality. This study examined the existing norms and standards of HCW management to unravel the minimum lawfully acceptable practices in South Africa and the world.
The aim of this study was to assess the management of HCW in private surgeries within the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality.
The study was conducted in the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng province, South Africa.
A mixed research methodology was employed in collecting and analysing data collected from 109 professional doctors, dentists, nurses, administrative staff and cleaners working in private surgeries.
The findings revealed that private surgeries generated 98.17% of infectious waste, while 1.83% was general waste. Most containers adhered to South African National Standards guidelines, but knowledge gaps were found regarding treatment and disposal methods. A total of 92.7% of private surgeries used private companies for waste collection, transport and disposal. Those who used private waste management companies were given Waste Manifest documentation as proof of disposal at an approved facility.
Private surgeries in the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality managed hazardous HCW satisfactorily, but improvements in container usage and waste handling procedures are recommended.
The findings of the study can be used to develop comprehensive HCW management guidelines for private surgeries, to help them better manage the HCW they generate.
本研究介绍了茨瓦内市大都市区大多数私立外科手术中普遍存在的医疗废物管理新做法。本研究审视了医疗废物管理的现行规范和标准，以厘清南非乃至全球法律上可接受的最低限度做法。
本研究旨在评估茨瓦内市大都市区私立外科手术中的医疗废物管理情况。
本研究在南非豪登省茨瓦内市大都市区开展。
采用混合研究方法收集和分析从在私立外科手术机构工作的109名专业医生、牙医、护士、行政人员和清洁人员处收集的数据。
研究结果显示，私立外科手术产生了98.17%的传染性废物，而1.83%为普通废物。大多数容器符合南非国家标准指南，但在处理和处置方法方面存在知识差距。共有92.7%的私立外科手术机构将废物收集、运输和处置工作外包给了私人公司。那些使用私人废物管理公司的机构收到了废物转移联单文件，作为在经批准的设施进行处置的证明。
茨瓦内市大都市区的私立外科手术对危险医疗废物的管理令人满意，但建议在容器使用和废物处理程序方面加以改进。
本研究结果可用于制定私立外科手术的全面医疗废物管理指南，以帮助它们更好地管理所产生的医疗废物。
