Compliance of bio medical waste management practices in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Northeast India

Samarpita Dutta; Chanda Mog; Amit Das; Tanusri Debbarma; Uma Debbarma

doi:10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20254424

Authors

Samarpita Dutta Department of Community Medicine, Agartala Government Medical College, Agartala, Tripura, India
Chanda Mog Department of Community Medicine, Agartala Government Medical College, Agartala, Tripura, India
Amit Das Department of Community Medicine, Agartala Government Medical College, Agartala, Tripura, India
Tanusri Debbarma Department of Radiodiagnosis, Agartala Government Medical College, Agartala, Tripura, India
Uma Debbarma Department of Biochemistry, Agartala Government Medical College, Agartala, Tripura, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20254424

Keywords:

AGMC, BMW management practices, Compliance, Tertiary care centre

Abstract

Background: The handling of medical waste has recently become a significant problem for all medical centres and healthcare organizations because of the risks it poses to both people and the environment. Objective was to evaluate the compliance of bio-medical waste management practices in different patient care areas in a tertiary care hospital of Agartala, west Tripura.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a total of 58 patient care settings at Agartala Government Medical College for a period of fourteen days using a pre-validated checklist containing 20 items related to availability and condition of waste receptacles, segregation at source of generation frequency of removal of waste and 7 parameters for assessing needle handling practices.

Results: A total 58 patients care areas were evaluated. Maximum patient care areas (75.9 %), BMW guidelines were found displayed; in 65.5% patient care settings, location of chart was observed appropriate; and content of chart was readable in 63.7% user areas. Most of the user areas, the 4 colour coded bins were available ranging from 84.5% to 65.5%. About segregation of wastes, infected/soiled wastes were disposed of in yellow bins in 72.4% of user areas; Sharp glassware and metallic body implants were disposed of in blue bins in 81% of user areas; plastic materials were disposed of in red bins in 79.3% of user areas; and sharp wastes were disposed of in white bins in 60.3% of user areas.

Conclusions: The findings suggest that there is still need of improvement of BMW management practices in some user areas.

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