Classification and Management of Medical Waste

Hospitals produce a lot of medical waste every day, so how is medical waste categorized? And how is it managed? Please see below.

Classification of medical waste:

Infectious waste

This kind of waste is the waste containing pathogens, which may be infected when a person touches it, such as: blood, swabs, sputum, medical specimens, stools and so on.

Injurious waste

It is some sharp equipment instruments, such as: needles, suture needles, scalpels, surgical saws, scalpels, glass test tubes and so on.

Pharmaceutical waste

Some expired, deteriorated, eliminated drugs, such as: over-the-counter drugs, antibiotics, immunosuppressants, blood products, etc..

Chemical waste

Corrosive, discarded chemicals. For example: discarded peroxyacetic acid, discarded laboratory chemicals, chemical disinfectants, discarded mercury sphygmomanometers, etc.

How is it managed?

These wastes are categorized and transported in big trucks to the dumpsite, which disposes of them depending on the waste.