All Points Medical Waste Blog

Diseases caused by medical waste?

Improperly disposing of medical waste can cause the following diseases

As a healthcare professional or provider, you know how important it is to properly dispose of medical waste—but did you know that when improperly handled, biomedical waste could cause several diseases? The World Health Organization has reported that the pathogens that exist within medical waste can be linked to the following diseases:

Parasitic infections

Healthcare facilities that test patients for parasites often have waste that is contaminated with live parasites. Bodily fluids are tested by incubation and then disposed of as waste once the test is complete. It makes sense that any waste from these types of procedures could be highly infectious if disposed of improperly.

Meningitis

Meningitis is contracted via bodily fluids and causes inflammation of the membranes around the brain and spinal chord. Biomedical waste that contains bodily fluids can pose a risk of meningitis to those who come in contact with it accidentally.

Skin infections

Skin can become easily infected if it comes in contact with any number of pathogens in medical waste. It’s crucial that your staff wear the required gear when handling any waste generated from your facility and that it is not discarded in a public container or a container that has any cracks, breaks or leaks.

Candida

Candida is a disease associated with long hospital stays that is caused by Candida albicans. Waste from hospitals and other treatment facilities often contains this pathogen. Therefore, can infect those who accidentally come in contact with it.

Bacteremia

Bacteremia is an extremely dangerous infection that transmits to organs throughout the body when bacteria is present in the bloodstream. Sharps and other instruments can contain pathogens that cause bacteremia with improper disposal.

Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C

An accidental prick from a needle that has come in contact with both Hepatitis B and C can result in dangerous infections and transmit these diseases. It’s critical that you dispose all sharps in the proper container.

As a medical provider, you are devoted to the care of your patients and ensuring that your staff is protected against coming in contact with any pathogens or medical hazards. To safeguard all who work and visit your facility, take the time to review these diseases and partner with a certified medical waste provider to manage all of your needs.

For more information about proper medical waste disposal, please browse through our site. Give us a call at 772.600.4885 to learn more about our services and how we can help. We provide a myriad of medical waste, shredding and hard drive destruction services.

Dawn Connelly

Dawn is the vice president of All Points Medical Waste. All Points Medical Waste is a family-owned and operated medical waste disposal and compliance company that has been serving the Treasure Coast, Palm Beaches, and surrounding areas since 1994.
Get Your Quick Quote
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.