A Study on Biomedical Waste Management in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Kolkata

BACKGROUND---The waste generated during the delivery of health care services carries a high potential of infection and injury than any other type of waste. OBJECTIVES---To study the system of segregation, collection, transportation and disposal of biomedical wastes. To assess the knowledge and practices about biomedical waste management among the health care providers. METHODOLOGY----A cross sectional hospital based study was done in a tertiary medical college in Kolkata. Internees, nursing staff, laboratory technicians and biomedical waste handlers were interviewed using a pre- designed and pre- tested schedule separately for their knowledge and practices. Secondly observations were made in the above mentioned departments and details were recorded following observational checklists. RESULTS----Regarding biomedical waste management the overall level of awareness, knowledge and practices was found to be highest among the nursing staff followed by internees, laboratory technicians and least among biomedical waste handlers. There were gaps between knowledge and day to day practices overall among the study subjects but was found to be maximum among the internees. Regarding post-exposure prophylaxis it was found that there was lack of correct knowledge and response. Number of needle prick injuries was found to be maximum among the biomedical waste handlers followed by the internees in the past one year. Lastly observational checklists showed loopholes in the administration of proper biomedical waste management. CONCLUSION In a nutshell the overall scenario of biomedical waste management is still masked by the shadow of unawareness.