Implementation of the technology for treating infectious medical waste using the STERISHRED 250 sterilizer.

The implementation of the technology for the treatment of the infectious medical waste will have a major impact both ecologically and economically, because at the moment in the Republic of Moldova, there is no technology for the treatment of the infectious medical waste implemented on an industrial scale.

In the city of Chisinau daily accumulates about 3 tons per day of waste of medical activity, annually – about 1095 tons of waste. At the same time, annually 120 million syringes and 6 million infusion systems are used throughout the country.

Currently there is no waste disposal center for medical activity. In over 90% of the Primary Medical Institutions the syringes used in vaccination activities are burned especially under the open sky in a pit, sometimes – in an incinerator. 8% of the Medical Institutions transport the syringes to the plastic recycling factories, and 2% – dispose the syringes and needles to the solid waste bin.

The purpose of the proposed project for implementation is the management of infectious waste resulting from the medical activities of the medical institutions and hospitals of Chisinau municipality by collecting, sorting, packing, transporting and neutralizing these wastes to prevent contamination of the environment.

The neutralization of infectious medical waste will be carried out by applying the method of vacuum sterilization using the STERISHRED 250 machine.

The expected results are:
– establishing the systems for sorting, packing, transporting and neutralizing the infectious waste of the medical activity
– arranging the neutralization point of the infectious waste of the medical activity industrial testing of the STERISHRED 250 sterilizer
– improvement of the sanitary-epidemiological state of medical institutions and hospitals in Chisinau municipality
– prevention and reduction of environmental pollution.

In this project it is proposed to use the method of autoclaving sterilization of the categories of infectious medical waste that contain or have come in contact with blood or other biological fluids, as well as viruses, bacteria, parasites and / or toxins of microorganisms, for example: syringes , needles, wire needles, catheters, tubular infusers, containers containing blood or other biological fluids, operating fields, gloves, probes and other disposable materials, including compresses, bandages and other contaminated materials, dialysis membranes, plastic material for collecting urine, used laboratory materials, etc .; sharp waste – eg: needles, wire needles, catheters, needle syringes, beads, disposable scalpel blades, pipettes, laboratory glassware or other broken glassware or not, which have come into contact with infectious material; These wastes are considered infectious according to universal precautions.
STERISHRED 250 is the most modern method of local solution, without incineration, of the problem of processing of infectious medicinal waste. An operational cycle of the STERISHRED 250 includes:

  • waste collection: special plastic or large autoclavable bags in the trolley or crate to prevent sticking of the container waste. Then, the red bags are placed in these containers along with the disposable containers for sharp objects.
    preliminary heating: steam is introduced into the autoclave chamber.
    Waste loading: Waste containers are loaded in autoclave. The waste is shredded through the shredder. The crushed materials are collected in the treatment tank until it is filled. The shredder reduces the volume of processed waste by 70-80%. The appliance also transforms the waste so that it becomes unrecognizable. The charger door closes, sealing the room.
    air evacuation: the air is evacuated by pre-emptying.
    steam processing: saturated steam is introduced into the room until the required temperature is reached. In addition, to maintain the temperature for the entire duration of the process, steam is automatically introduced.
    steam removal: steam is evacuated from the chamber to reduce pressure and temperature. The vacuum cycle is used to remove residual steam.
    unloading: additional time is usually required for subsequent cooling, after which the treated waste is automatically discharged. The indicator, if any, is removed and analyzed. Disinfected materials are ready for storage.

The process is carried out at low temperatures (136 oC), with the concomitant shredding, sterilization and destruction of confidential information storage units in a single compact space. The appliance transforms waste from “red bags” (biologically hazardous / biomedical), including stinging and cutting objects, into municipal sterilized waste.
The processing capacity of the machine is 250 l, which is equivalent to approximately 28 kg of liquid and solid infectious waste (if the density corresponds to the ratio 100 l = 10 kg). The duration of a cycle is 75 min.
STERISHRED 250 is the complete waste solution at an affordable price. Infectious wastes are destroyed immediately after formation, thus reducing the risk of liability. The method is safe for patients, medical staff and the population and facilitates pandemic preparedness.
STERISHRED 250 ensures the efficiency of sterilization of processed materials.