Where Do Pathological Waste Go After Hospital
7/19/2023
Hospital wastes are inevitable, but we have to dispose of them. Some of the waste that we see in hospitals are pathological waste. So, once they take up space, where do they go?
What is Pathological Waste
Pathological waste is the waste accumulated from stocks and lab cultures. This includes tissue and blood taken as samples for testing or placentas from childbirth and other body parts taken during an operation or surgery. Disposal varies from every hospital.
Where Do Pathological Waste Go
So, where does the pathological waste go? Body parts such as amputated limbs are either cremated or buried while other pathological wastes are disposed of. However, before doing so, one must consider disease transmission. Lab cultures are often dangerous, so they’re autoclaved within the area where they come from. They don’t usually spread around the hospital because they may carry diseases.
In some hospitals, they have a tissue digester. However, they’re expensive, so not all hospitals can have one. So, in some low-income areas, pathological waste is disposed of using natural chemicals. They sometimes also just rely on natural decomposition as long as they are not near urban areas or close to any water sources.
Hospital waste is found all over the world, and while there are certain processes done to eliminate the waste, at times, not all medical facilities can. Still, hospitals are doing their best to ensure that safety and cleanliness are followed to prevent any spread of diseases.