Evaluating pharmaceutical waste disposal in pediatric units / Evaluación del descarte de resíduos de fármacos en unidades pediátricas / Avaliação do descarte de resíduos de medicamentos em unidades pediátricas

Abstract OBJECTIVE To verify the disposal of pharmaceutical waste performed in pediatric units. METHOD A descriptive and observational study conducted in a university hospital. The convenience sample consisted of pharmaceuticals discarded during the study period. Handling and disposal during preparation and administration were observed. Data collection took place at pre-established times and was performed using a pre-validated instrument. RESULTS 356 drugs disposals were identified (35.1% in the clinic, 31.8% in the intensive care unit, 23.8% in the surgical unit and 9.3% in the infectious diseases unit). The most discarded pharmacological classes were: 22.7% antimicrobials, 14.8% electrolytes, 14.6% analgesics/pain killers, 9.5% diuretics and 6.7% antiulcer agents. The most used means for disposal were: sharps’ disposable box with a yellow bag (30.8%), sink drain (28.9%), sharps’ box with orange bag (14.3%), and infectious waste/bin with a white bag (10.1%). No disposal was identified after drug administration. CONCLUSION A discussion of measures that can contribute to reducing (healthcare) waste volume with the intention of engaging reflective team performance and proper disposal is necessary.

Resumen OBJETIVO Verificar el descarte de los resíduos de fármacos realizado en unidades pediátricas. MÉTODO Estudio descriptivo y observacional, realizado en un hospital universitario. La muestra de conveniencia estuvo constituida de los fármacos descartados durante el período de estudio. Se observaron la manipulación y el descarte durante la preparación y la administración. La recolección de datos ocurrió en horarios prestablecidos y fue llevada a cabo mediante instrumento pre validado. RESULTADOS Se identificaron 356 descartes de fármacos (el 35,1% en la clínica, el 31,8% en la unidad de cuidados intensivos, el 23,8% en la quirúrgica y el 9,3% en la infectología). Las clases farmacológicas más descartadas fueron: el 22,7% de antimicrobianos, el 14,8% de electrolitos, el 14,6% de analgésicos, el 9,5% de diuréticos y el 6,7% de antiulcerosos. Medios más utilizados: caja desechable para punzocortante con bolsa amarilla (30,8%), rebosadero del lavabo (28,9%), caja de punzocortante con bolsa naranja (14,3%) y basurero infectante con bolsa blanca (10,1%). No se identificó descarte tras la administración de los medicamentos. CONCLUSIÓN Se hace necesaria la discusión de medidas que contribuyan a la reducción del volumen de resíduos a fin de involucrar la actuación reflexiva del equipo y el descarte adecuado.

Resumo OBJETIVO Verificar o descarte dos resíduos de medicamentos realizado em unidades pediátricas. MÉTODO Estudo descritivo e observacional, realizado em um hospital universitário. A amostra de conveniência foi constituída pelos medicamentos descartados durante o período de estudo. Observaram-se a manipulação e o descarte durante o preparo e a administração. A coleta dos dados ocorreu em horários preestabelecidos e realizada por meio de instrumento pré-validado. RESULTADOS Identificaram-se 356 descartes de medicamentos (35,1% na clínica, 31,8% na unidade de cuidados intensivos, 23,8% na cirúrgica e 9,3% na infectologia). As classes farmacológicas mais descartadas foram: 22,7% antimicrobianos, 14,8% eletrólitos, 14,6% analgésicos, 9,5% diuréticos e 6,7% antiulcerosos. Vias mais utilizadas: caixa descartável para perfurocortante com saco amarelo (30,8%), ralo da pia (28,9%), caixa de perfurocortante com saco laranja (14,3%) e lixeira infectante com saco branco (10,1%). Não foi identificado descarte após a administração dos fármacos. CONCLUSÃO Faz-se necessária a discussão de medidas que contribuam para a redução do volume de resíduos, com o intuito de engajar a atuação reflexiva da equipe e o descarte adequado.

Impacto de los recientes avances en el análisis de comunidades microbianas sobre el control del proceso de tratamiento de efluentes / Impact of the recent advances in the analysis of microbial communities on the control of the wastewater treatment process

Una de las funciones principales de la biotecnología ambiental es ocuparse del estudio de comunidades microbianas que proveen servicios esenciales para la sociedad. Más allá de las similitudes que presenta con la microbiología industrial y la agrícola, la biotecnología ambiental presenta peculiaridades, tales como los objetivos de proceso, las características de la biomasa y el tipo y modo de alimentación (sustratos), que la distinguen claramente de las otras disciplinas relacionadas. En este artículo se reseñan recientes avances en la ecología microbiana, la ecofisiología, la genómica y la ingeniería de procesos, para ilustrar cómo la integración de los nuevos conocimientos permite superar las limitaciones del análisis microbiológico clásico para entender, predecir y optimizar el funcionamiento de los procesos de tratamiento de efluentes.

One of the main functions of environmental biotechnology is to address the study of microbial communities that provide essential services to society. Beyond the similarities with industrial and agricultural microbiology, the unique features exhibited by environmental biotechnology, such as process objectives, biomass characteristics and type and mode of feeding (substrates), allow a clear distinction from the other related disciplines. Recent advances in microbial ecology, ecophysiology, genomics and process engineering are herein reviewed to illustrate how the integration of the new knowledge can help overcome the shortcomings of classic microbiological analyses to understand, predict and optimize the performance of wastewater treatment.

Modelagem matemática para avaliação dos efeitos de despejos orgânicos nas condições sanitárias de águas ambientais / Mathematical modeling to assess the effects of organic waste dumping on sanitary conditions of environmental waters

O objetivo deste artigo é fazer uma avaliação das tendências emergentes em ações ambientais na administração de efluentes sanitários. A matéria orgânica presente no esgoto é a causa de um dos principais problemas de poluição das águas, favorecendo a transmissão de doenças de veiculação hídrica, afetando a saúde da população. A matéria orgânica em grande quantidade provoca o aumento do número de microrganismos e, conseqüentemente, o consumo excessivo do oxigênio dissolvido nos processos metabólicos de utilização e estabilização da matéria orgânica, levando ao desaparecimento e a extinção dos organismos aquáticos aeróbios, favorecendo o surgimento de outras formas de vida no meio anaeróbio, por vezes produzindo resíduos tóxicos. O foco principal deste artigo é discutir a dispersão da matéria orgânica no esgoto no ambiente urbano usando um modelo de qualidade de água, com parâmetros principais o oxigênio dissolvido e a demanda bioquímica de oxigênio. Discute-se, ainda, metodologias de lançamento de esgoto que podem contribuir à saúde pública, ao saneamento e à melhoria de conservação dos recursos hídricos.

Microbial and heavy metal contamination of treated hospital wastewater in Thailand.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the microbial and heavy metal contamination of treated hospital wastewater MATERIAL AND METHOD: Methods of treating wastewater were acquired by questionnaires. Chlorine concentration, pH, bacteria and parasites in treated wastewater were tested in the individual hospitals. Heavy metal concentrations were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. RESULTS: In 2002, 72 hospitals were included in the present study. The common methods of treating wastewater were activated sludge and oxidation ditch. Bacteria exceeded standard numbers, pathogenic bacteria and parasites were found in two-thirds of the hospitals. Heavy metals, namely lead, chromium and cadmium, in the hospital effluent did not exceed standard concentrations. CONCLUSION: Micro-organisms exceeding standard levels were found in treated wastewater in two-thirds of the hospitals. Lead, chromium and cadmium levels in hospital effluent were in an acceptable range.

Reclamation of dairy industrial liquid waste in growing aromatic and medicinal plants

The study involved Misr Dairy Plant waste as raw or partially treated during the 2 seasons 1992 and 1993. Ocimum basilicum L. and Ruta graveolens L. were chosen for this study as they were suitable for the type of waste and type of soil surrounding Misr Dairy Plant at Ras El- Soda. Physical and chemical characteristics of the final effluent of Misr Dairy Plant, before and after preliminary treatment, have been carried out. The main pollutant was organic matter as measured by BOD and COD, with mean values of 5580 and 7860 mg/L, respectively, which were reduced through preliminary treatment with efficiency of 39.5% and 23.7%, respectively. Evaluation of the different soil analysis, as impacted by the irrigation with the tested effluent during the two seasons 1992 and 1993, revealed that certain precautions should be taken towards application of dairy waste against soil salinization and/or alkalinization such as leaching requirements or flushing the soil with fresh water. The best results of aromatic and medicinal plants' vegetative growth and maximum extracted essential oils, quantity and quality, were significant using 50% diluted sedimented dairy waste in plant irrigation. Also, pretreated dairy waste was better than raw waste with respect to plant growth. Generally, during the second cut, there was a significant better response in plants vegetative growth characteristics than the first cut

effect of retention time and length to width [L/W] ratio on the removal efficiency of BOD5, SS, and TS in septic tanks

In this study, the effect of retention time and length to width ratio on septic tank efficiency was investigated through a laboratory model. The model was designed based on dimensional analysis. The model was operated by using municipal wastewater from the inlet to Dar Seit, Muscat Sewage Treatment Plant. The removal efficiency of BOD5, SS, and TS in the septic tank model was found to increase with the increase of retention time up to two days beyond which the increase was not substantial