The study of bacterial flora of different types in hospital waste: evaluation of waste treatment at Aiims Hospital, New Delhi.

Bio-medical waste management rules were formulated in response to the worldwide public concern over medical waste. The practice of separation into different types of waste in health care institutes should be evaluated more scientifically. Due to a lack of data from the Indian sub-continent, this study was initiated at a tertiary care hospital. Samples were collected from different types of waste at the hospital, at different time intervals, for microbiological evaluation. The results reveal that the microbial flora isolated from infectious waste and general waste from the hospital are similar. The samples from general waste in this study reveal many types of pathogens. The bacteria present in the waste initially was low in quantity, but they replicated rapidly over time so that significant numbers were detected by 24 hours, due to environmental factors which were favorable for growth during this period. This study strongly suggests that waste should be removed from the hospital within 24 hours of its generation to prevent environmental contamination caused by any accidental spillage of waste. General waste generated in the hospital should be treated similar to infectious waste, as it can be equally hazardous.

Knowledge, attitude and practices towards HIV among nurses in a tertiary care teaching hospital: two decades after the discovery.

Accidental transmission of HIV infection to health care workers during occupational exposure is a real threat today. The first such case in India has been documented by NACO recently. Adequate knowledge about the disease and practice of safety measures are our best bet to reduce such transmission. A survey was carried out amongst over 500 nurses in a tertiary care referral hospital in Delhi to assess their knowledge, attitude and practices towards HIV/AIDS. While overall knowledge was satisfactory, there were gaping holes in vital areas. The conversion of their theoretical knowledge into safe practices was shockingly poor. It was due to attitude problems as much as inadequate supplies. High incidence of accidental exposures in the near past and complete ignorance of post-exposure prophylaxis guidelines was another highlight of this study. Despite tremendous efforts put in by the Government as well as various Non-Governmental Organizations, we are completely ill equipped to fight the menace of occupational HIV transmission. In order to fight this menace, "safe practices" have to be made a "way of life" for HCWs. Our health care planners need to take note of it and our teaching and training programmes need complete re-orientation to achieve this goal.