Medical Waste Containers Can Cause Cross Contamination in Medical Facilities

June 26, 2009 - PRLog -- In an article by Liz Greenawalt, November, 2005,http://www.cleanlink.com/sm/article.asp?id=3582,
she states the following.    
“Cross contamination is one of the biggest concerns in hospitals because the spread of viruses and bacteria from room to room or person to person can quickly balloon from a minor problem to full blown disease outbreak. While cross contamination can lead to devastating circumstances when people with compromised immune systems are exposed, cross contamination is also a threat to anyone who crosses the facility’s threshold.”


Cross contamination is a very real problem in all medical facilities; from doctor’s offices to major hospitals.  Eliminating potential doors of opportunity to viruses and harmful bacteria is an on going work in progress.
One area of concern is the types of medical waste transport containers allowed into medical facilities.  The containers are broken down into two categories; reusable and single use.   There are pros and cons to each type of container.

Reusable Containers

Reusable containers  are currently widely used and accepted in the medical industry.  These containers have many benefits to the medical facility and also the medical waste hauler.  To a medical facility, the reusable container is an asset because of the construction.  These containers are normally manufactured from some type of plastic.  The reusable medical waste container is safe to be stored outside when waiting to be used.  They are not subject to be damaged from the environmental elements.

However there is one major concern growing among medical facilities; the clear threat of “cross contamination.”  The cycle of a reusable container starts with the medical waste hauler leaving these containers at a medical facility to be filled.  The medical waste company picks up the full containers and takes them to a processing facility to be emptied and the contents processed.  The empty container is then washed and stored to be sent to another facility to start the process all over again.

The problem of “cross contamination” comes into play because of several aspects of this cycle.

1.    Type of cleaning procedures used on the containers
2.    Non-dedicated containers
3.   Material makeup of reusables
4.   Handling guidelines in a medical facility

Cleaning Procedures  

A clear understanding should be made with a medical waste hauler and processor on the type of cleaning procedures being used for these containers.  A site visit along with a list of cleaning agents being used should be provided to the medical facility.  The hauling and also the processing company should be held liable for any damages caused by improper cleaning of the containers.  The hauling company should also provide a medical facility with the procedures being used to disinfect the transport vehicles.  Leaking containers spread potential infectious substances to the clean containers located on the same truck as the full containers.  This could potentially “cross contaminate”  the clean containers being transported.

One area of concern is the types of medical waste transport containers allowed into medical facilities.  


Non-dedicated Containers

Non-dedicated containers potentially can transfer harmful infectious material from one facility to another.  This action can potentially interrupt your cleaning procedures by introducing foreign contaminants into your environment.


Material Makeup of Reusables

Plastic under a microscope, it looks like a sponge.  These microscopic holes can harbor potential infectious material.  These small indentions become a great place for bacteria to incubate; causing an odor to develop in the containers.  This is because many medical waste processing facilities do not allow the container to fully dry before stacking.  I worked for many years to find a solution to this problem. A chemist suggested that I use glycerin in my washing center, along with my other disinfectants.  The effect was very promising. My reusable containers began to look better and the odor was eliminated.  Glycerin acts as a disinfectant as well as a coating and elasticizer.  This prevented the bacteria from incubating in the pours of the material.

Handling Transport Containers in a Facility

Dealing with non-dedicated, potentially unclean transport containers in a facility can cause a problem unless proper care is used.

1.    Always use gloves when handling the containers or the waste
2.   Discard gloves after working with medical waste or the containers.
3.   Never use reusables around or in patient rooms.
4.   If you do not know if it is clean use caution.
5.   Regularly clean the medical waste storage area. uses

Single Use Containers

The single use container is the second category of medical waste containers.  Most medical personnel are familiar with the single use sharps container.  This product has been used successfully for many years.  Several companies have tried to introduce the reusable sharps container with little success.  The major concern is the cleanliness of the reusable container.  This should also be the concern when dealing with any reusable.  The single use container consists of a DOT certified cardboard box with a certified plastic liner.  These containers are clean, dedicated, single use containers.  There is no threat of cross contamination when using boxes.  They are safe in every application; with one exception.  These containers absorb water.  Medical waste boxes have to be stored in a dry place before, during and after use.
This article is not designed to steer your facility away from reusables; just to make you aware of the potential problems associated with their use.  Medical facilities are constantly looking for ways to improve as well as ways to eliminate external dangers.  

About the Author

Gary Gilliam started his first medical waste company in the early 1990’s.  He has served as a waste consultant for many facilities around the world as well as a mechanical designer.  He presently serves as President of his second medical waste company, Gmed Services, which started in 2008 in Nashville, TN and provides medical waste services in Tennessee, Kentucky and Northern Mississippi..  For more information, please contact Gary Gilliam, 615-594-0338.  You may also visit our web site www.gmedservices.com.

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Low cost medical waste transportation services company for Tennessee, Kentucky and Mississippi. One of the fastest growing medical waste companies in the US. Offering level cost per container without all of the other associated fees.