Comparison of infectious waste management in European hospitals.
A research project sponsored by the EC-LIFE programme was conducted to compare waste management in five different European hospitals. A comparison of the regulations governing current waste management revealed different strategies for defining infectious hospital waste. The differences in the infrastructure were examined and the consequences for waste segregation and disposal were discussed under economic and ecological aspects. In this context the definition of infectious waste is very important.
Mühlich
M
M
Institute for Environmental Medicine and Hospital Epidemiology, Freiburg University Hospital, Hugstetter Str. 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany. muehlich@iuk3.ukl.uni-freiburg.de
Scherrer
M
M
Daschner
F D
FD
D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D005060:Europe; D006797:Housekeeping, Hospital / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008284:Maintenance and Engineering, Hospital / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D008506:Medical Waste / Q000145:classification / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000379:methods*
D008506:Medical Waste; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal