Healthcare Waste Treatment by Microwave: Critical Parameters and Future Perspectives | Biomedgrid

Medical or healthcare waste (HCW) are defined by WHO (World Health Organization) as “waste that is generated in the diagnosis, treatment or immunization of human beings or animals”. Management of such waste include properly handling and disposal to reduce risk for healthcare operators but also for citizens reducing the probability of microorganism diffusion [1-5]. Complexity of sanitary structures and the characteristics of treatments provided influence the production of HCW, in terms of quantities and composition [6,7]. Production ranges from 1,3 to 2,5 kg every occupied bed and every day and from 0,5 to 1,0 in developing countries [7,8]. Some specialized structures can reach higher rate of production: for example, in Italy, specialized sanitary structure Ismett, has produced more than 13 kg/occupied bed every day as a mean value of the years 2010-2012 [5]. It is known that around 75-90% of HCW produced in a healthcare facility is not dangerous; the remaining 10-25 % can be considered dangerous and among these, only the 10% is infectious [9]. Infectious waste is “material suspected to contain pathogens (bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi) in sufficient concentration or quantity to cause disease in susceptible hosts”, as defined by WHO [9].