Chemical Disinfection
Chemical disinfection systems have long been used in the clinical and Healthcare Waste setting for the disinfection of surfaces and medical devices [1]. Chemicals commonly used are sodium hypochlorite, chlorine dioxide, peracetic acid, glutaraldehyde and quaternary ammonium compounds[1]. Ethylene oxide is also sometimes used in the treatment of Healthcare Waste although it is more often used to sterilize equipment that will be re-used[2].
The waste must first be shredded in order to bring all surfaces of the waste into direct contact with the chemicals. Some systems combine heat with the chemicals to reduce the treatment cycle. The key requirements are that[1]:
- the disinfectant has the ability to act on all the key pathogen groups;
- the disinfectant is maintained in the waste at sufficient concentration or is given enough time to achieve the required level of treatment for each of the key pathogen groups; and
- the treated waste (which may be highly absorbent) should not be rendered chemically hazardous due to the presence of residual disinfectant.