“any solid, fluid or liquid waste,

including its container and any intermediate

product, which is generated during the
diagnosis, treatment or immunization of
human beings or animals, in research
pertaining thereto,
or in the production or testing of biologicals
and the animal waste from slaughter houses
or any other like establishments”.
Pathogens in infectious waste may enter the
human body through a puncture , abrasion
or a cut in the skin , through mucus
membrane by inhalation or ingestion .
Pathogens in infectious waste may enter the
human body through a puncture , abrasion
or a cut in the skin , through mucus
membrane by inhalation or ingestion .

It causes problems ranging from headache ,

dizziness , vomiting to affecting genetic
material .
It uses chemicals to destroy pathogenic organisms
from any inanimate object.
● Sharps contaminated with blood and body fluids.
● Instruments, equipment that are used to cut, pierce
or enter the natural orifices like needles, syringes
and endoscopes
● Contaminated floors, surfaces, clothes, beds,
beddings, enamel, crockery and bed pans
● Wet mopping of intensive care units, operation
theatres, wards and patient waiting areas.
 Recommended concentration/dilution of Chemical disinfectants
DISINFECTANT CONTAMINATED GROSSLY
( A contact period 0f 30 minutes is CONDITION CONTAMINATED
required for effective disinfection ) CONDITION
Sodium hypochlorite 5% available 20 ml / L 200 ml /L
chlorine as liquid bleach

Tincture of Iodine/Povidone Iodine 2.5 % 2.5 %

Ethyl Alcohol 70 % 70 %

Isopropyl Alcohol 70 % 70 %

Gluteraldehyde 2 % 2.5 % 2.5 %

Formaldehyde 40 % 5% 10 %

Savlon 5% 10 %

Dettol 4.8 % v/v 4% 10 %

Cresol 2.5 % 5%
*It uses heat to decontaminate instruments
and equipment and the temperatures in
this process may rise to extremely high
levels.
*Most of the microbes are destroyed at
temperatures below 100°C.
1. Autoclave
2. Hydroclave
3. Incinerator
4. Microwave
 -where air is pushed out of the
autoclave by steam under pressure.
-This system operates at
temperatures of 121°C and has a
cycle time of approximately
60 - 90 minutes.

Here vacuum pumps are utilized to

evacuate the air in the chamber of
autoclave and steam under pressure
is pushed in, which is able to
penetrate the waste material more
thoroughly. This technology thus
reduces the cycle time to 30 - 60
minutes and the temperatures
attained are 132°C.
- Thisis a steam
sterilization technology
in which the steam is
used as an indirect
heating source thus
allowing total
dehydration of waste
material.
- The holding time for waste is 15 minutes at 132°C
or 30 minutes at 121°C.
- The organic components of the waste are hydrolyzed and
the waste matter is reduced by weight and volume.
- Incineration is a high heat system
process of burning combustible solids
at very high temperature in a furnace.
- It employs combustion of waste
material in stages, followed by
cleaning of the flue gas through a
number of pollution control devices.
- The end product is devoid of infectious
organisms and organic compounds of
waste, which is acceptable.

- Based on the type of fuel

consumed the division could be-
● Conventional incinerator using
wood/charcoal
● Electrical incinerator
● Oil fired incinerator using
electricity and diesel oil
 -This low heat system uses
microwaves to heat up
the waste material from inside,
unlike the external heat given
in autoclave and hydro clave.
-Microwaves are electromagnetic
waves that lie between the 300 to
300,000 mega hertz range in the
electromagnetic radiation
spectrum.

-They are able to penetrate materials and create vibrations in all the
molecules such as water in the waste materials.
-This vibration generates friction, which in turn produces heat to
disinfect the waste material.
-The heat produced at 95 - 100°C for a holding period of 25 minutes
 MECHANICAL TECHNOLOGY

1. Compaction: Compacting is carried out by a

hydraulic ram against a hard surface.
2. Grinding / Shredding: Waste material is broken
down into smaller particles under pressure to
avoid any spillage outside the chamber.
3. Pulverization: Waste is mixed with large volume
of water and bleach solution. The waste is torn
to shreds and then fed to an ultra high speed
hammer mill with large spin blades which
pulverize the matter into small, safe particles.
 *This involves exposing the waste matter to
ultraviolet or ionizing radiation in an
enclosed chamber.
*Decontamination occurs when nucleic acids
in the living cells are irradiated.
* The advantage with this technology is that energy
input is minimal and it is used to treat items,
which cannot be heated.
* Source of radiation needs to be properly disposed
off after its decay.
 FINAL DISPOSAL METHODS
General non hazardous waste
Liquid wastes
Human anatomical wastes
Sharps
Microbiology waste
Infectious solid waste
Radioactive waste
Pressurised containers
Secured landfills
Chemical disinfectant F/b neutralization with
reagent, and discharged into the sewerage
system.
Incinerated and sent to landfill sites.
Needles can be cut by needle cutter and
contained in 1% bleach solution, and sent to
landfill for disposal.
Autoclave/Microwave/Incineration F/b
landfill disposal.
Autoclave/Microwave/Incineration F/b
landfill disposal.
The solid wastes are disposed by
concentration and storage, while liquids by
dilution and dispersal
Disposed off with general waste in secured
landfills.