Results of a Hospital Waste Survey in Tabriz Hospitals

Hospital wastes because of the presence of hazardous, toxic and pathogenic agents has a particular sensitivity in many countries. Proper management of medical wastes is a very important role in the control of environmental pollution. In this study management of hospital wastes in all hospitals affiliated to Tabriz University of Medical Sciences with the goal of providing comprehensive and appropriate information for planning and improvement of health services in the future were studied. Information obtained through questionnaires, visits, interviews and weighing waste from hospitals during the years 2010-2011. In investigated hospitals were 2283 active beds that per capita waste generation was calculated 3.79 kg per bed per day. According to cluster analysis, hospitals in terms of waste production, were divided into four groups. Comparison of the staffing of hospitals with criterion announced by the research section of medical places of Iran housing company showed that some hospitals are facing with a shortage of services that can be effective in the management of hospital wastes. All hospitals have used the autoclave for disinfecting wastes. The average waste generation rate was calculated 2.75 kg regular and home-quasi, 0.128 kg sharp, 0.875 kg infectious-medical-chemical and 0.043 kg pathological. Finally, management of hospital wastes in studied hospitals was almost acceptable, but at some stage needed more attention.