The Types of Medical Wastes and How They Are Managed

Medical waste is defined as discarded wastes from medical facilities that contain infectious agents, capable of transmitting diseases to other individuals. Human disease agents may either be bacteria or a virus. Examples of medical waste include syringes and needles used on contaminated patients. Medical wastes should be disposed as solid waste or should undergo precautionary procedures to prevent the spread of disease pathogens.

The various types of medical wastes may range from blood and blood products to contaminated equipment and packaging. Human blood is clas-sified as medical waste as it may contain infectious agents that can cause blood-borne diseases once contracted. Bulk blood and blood samples for testing and research are some examples of this form of medical waste. All blood and blood products are treated with steam sterilization before disposal. The liquid segment is then disposed into a sewer drain once the sterilization process is completed.

Bacteria cultures and other stocks of human infectious agents are also considered to be medical wastes. These may include cultured bacteria obtained from contaminated patients as part of a diagnostic procedure. Cultures of animal diseases are not considered to be medical waste unless the culture was exposed to a human infectious agent. The same principle applies to animal pathological wastes.

Another example of medical wastes is glas-sware exposed to infectious agents, such as pipettes, stirring rods, test tubes, and other laboratory apparatus. Any other contaminated equipment is also considered as medical waste and should be managed and disposed of accordingly.

Sharps are another type of medical waste. These include needles, syringes, intravenous needles and tubing, lances, and scalpel blades. All sharps should be disposed of in a properly labeled sharps container. Needles, syringes, and other sharps that have been used on contaminated patients should be autoclaved before disposal and immediately taken by the service for medical waste pickup in Maryland.

Medical wastes should undergo intensive treatment procedures once shipped to waste management facilities. Laboratory personnel would first disinfect or sterilize all products and equipment contaminated with viral or bacterial infectious agents through autoclave or chemical treatment. All medical wastes are then placed in medical waste bins lined with red plastic bags and adequately labeled. Sharps are placed in a separate sharps container. The services meant for medical waste removal in Maryland regularly pickup hazardous refuse from hospital institutions.

Other wastes produced from medical institutions that have not been exposed to human infectious agents are not considered as medical wastes. They are, however, still managed by firms specializing in medical waste pickup in Maryland. Such wastes can be discarded in regular trash receptacles along with recyclable materials or other similar objects.