ROLE OF MISMANAGED CLINICAL WASTE ON SPREAD OF INFECTION:

A MINI REVIEW

Authors

  • I. Saidu Department of Microbiology, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State, Nigeria
  • J. N. Mohammed Department of Microbiology, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State, Nigeria
  • F. L. Jibril Department of Microbiology, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

Medical waste contains hazardous substances, microorganisms and contaminated body fluids. Discarding this waste is a significant aspect of health care delivery, especially in nations with poor hygiene and overpopulated medicals centers, hospitals and clinics. Diagnostic centers also produce waste that are extremely harmful and place people at risks of deadly diseases. Strategies must be designed to prevent spread of infections through provision of standard operating procedures for handling waste from generation, separation, collections, storage, transportations, and treatments. Awareness must be formed at all stages of societies through the several means of communications with training and education so that the risk of spreading the hazardous and infectious substances can be minimized. Also, health care workers should have a basic understanding of healthcare and treatment or disposal of medical wastes. Inappropriate handling and discarding of medical wastes by the management, staff member, waste picker, and patients would constitute risk of contact with various kind of infections including viral hepatitis B, hepatitis C, human immunodeficiency virus, typhoid, skin diseases/allergy, diarrhea, dysentery, tuberculosis and other infections.                         

Published

2024-01-02

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 1: 2023

Section

Articles