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COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL OF <br />INFECTIOUS WASTE <br />All waste deemed to be infectious by the attending physician or <br />the infection control nurse (Director of Nurses), shall be <br />autoclaved prior to discarding. <br />Infectious waste deemed a hazard to the environment shall <br />include: <br />a. Cultures of etiologic agents <br />b. Instruments and supplies contaminated by pus or other <br />etiologic agents. ("Etiologic agents" is defined as a <br />type of organism, helminth or virus which causes or <br />significantly contributes to the cause of increased <br />mortality of human beings.) <br />C. All disposable "sharps" including all needles and knife <br />blades. <br />PURPOSE <br />To prevent contamination of the environment, or transmission of <br />infections to patients or personnel. <br />EQUIPMENT <br />a. Biohazard transport container. <br />b. Decontamination autoclavable bags. <br />C. Disinfectant solution. <br />d. Rags to clean. <br />e. Sharps containers with one way closure. <br />PROCEDURE <br />A. Solid infectious waste: <br />(1) Employees working with infectious waste shall <br />dispose of materials in an autoclavable bag. <br />(2) Transport infectious waste to dirty room in the <br />bag lined biohazard transport container. <br />(3) These bags are to be kept closed or sealed and <br />autoclaved. <br />(4) Dispose of bags in waste container after <br />autoclaving at 270 degrees for 20 minutes. <br />(5) Clean and disinfect biohazard transport container <br />in hopper room and return to biohazard storage <br />area. <br />B. Autoclaving Syringes and Needles: <br />(1) Syringes and needles shall be collected in a <br />sharps container and sterilized by autoclaving <br />before being discarded into waste bin. <br />6/88 (E-13) <br />