As hospital and public health professionals work to minimize risks associated with the Ebola virus and other pathogens, BioSAFE Medical Waste Systems offers significant, hands-on experience in medical waste management, steam treatment and disposal. As we confront new and emerging public health challenges, we are available to discuss medical waste processing and disposal solutions with your infectious disease control team and administration. Contact us today.
Salient Aspects of treatment of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the STI Series 2000 Waste Treatment System
Material handling of packaged EVD contaminated materials:
Safely transporting packaged EVD contaminated materials and the introduction of these materials into a medical waste treatment system are paramount to the safety and health of the involved public. The STI Series 2000 system foundation is based upon minimizing handling of untreated waste materials and treated waste materials. Each system offers fully automated materials handling in a totally enclosed environment under negative pressure.
Waste is collected in covered wheelie bins (collection carts) which are rolled into the system and one button is pushed to initiate the process. The wheelie bin is automatically elevated inside of the totally enclosed system, automatically emptied into the system feed hopper. The wheelie bin is next decontaminated with 180°F superheated water to decontaminate the wheelie bin surfaces, making the wheelie bin safe for reuse, all without human intervention.
Waste is collected in covered wheelie bins (collection carts) which are rolled into the system and one button is pushed to initiate the process. The wheelie bin is automatically elevated inside of the totally enclosed system, automatically emptied into the system feed hopper. The wheelie bin is next decontaminated with 180°F superheated water to decontaminate the wheelie bin surfaces, making the wheelie bin safe for reuse, all without human intervention.
- Air is drawn into the STI system under negative pressure, HEPA filtered via a 99.97% efficient HEPA filtration system and exhausted to the out of doors in a completely safe particulate free manner.
- Fully automated Loading (eliminating manual labor, greatly lowering risk of exposure to waste materials)
- Fully enclosed system with negative pressure and 99.97% efficient HEPA filtration prevents possibilities of bio-aerosols
- Entire Loading system and shredding mechanism continuously steam decontaminated during operation
Treatment of EVD waste in the STI Series 2000 system:
- EVD Waste materials and their packaging are automatically introduced above the shredding system inside of the totally enclosed system. Prior to activation of the system shredder, direct steam is applied to outer surfaces of the primary and secondary packaging initiating steam decontamination.
- Waste materials and system shredder are continuously decontaminated via direct steam impingement, exposing enormous amounts of surface area to the steam treatment
- Waste materials are quickly (within seconds) brought to the boiling point of water assuring complete decontamination of all surfaces.
- Unlike competitive systems that use gaseous treatment or simple autoclaving of waste materials, the STI system is capable of steam decontamination of all materials and does not rely solely upon the conduction of temperature to the center of the mass or penetration of a gas into sealed objects that were not shredded during the shredding phase. Shredders are imperfect devices that can and do pass whole syringes, sealed vials, etc. without ever being broken open (as may be the case with gaseous treatment systems). In the STI system, steam elevates the contents of any un-shredded vials or syringes to the boiling point of water assuring complete decontamination.
- Shredder capable of shredding all RED BAG medical waste, surgical PPE, clothing, including anatomical wastes
- Shredded contents fall into a continuous feed steam treatment auger where additional steam is impinged upon all waste surfaces (shredded completely or not). All materials are sterilized for a minimum of one hour at temperature prior to automatic discharge into the Hospital owned self-contained sealed compactor.
- Continuous Feed Steam Treatment System (not batch Feed)(High Capacity)
- Integral heavy duty shredding and steaming assures complete efficacy (inactivation of all organisms including viruses, fungi, bacteria, parasites) by providing direct exposure of all waste surfaces directly to steam. 6LOG reduction of bacterial spores is achieved by the STI Series 2000 process.
- Sterilized waste materials are bulk reduced by up to 80% during the process, making cartage of the treated solids inexpensive.
- Treated waste materials are dehydrated during residence inside of the patented steam treatment auger, making the treated waste lightweight, further reducing costs of landfill.
System features and sub-systems:
- System always ready with no time required for heat-up when in standby mode
- Continuous Steam treatment auger uses low-pressure steam (<1BAR pressure)
- Steam treatment of all solids & liquids
- Treated waste materials are automatically odor controlled and prevent waste from becoming a vector for insects and rodents.
- No air, water or soil pollution
- No melting plastics or Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) generation
- Efficacy: 6-LOG reduction of Bacterial Spores including 96-100°C exposure for 60 minutes (Ebola Virus Disease inactivated in 5 minutes at boiling)
- STAATT III Compatible (State and Territorial Association on Alternative Treatment Technologies
- Low consumption of electricity, steam and water, unlike conventional autoclaves.
- Mobilized Systems can be containerized for transport and quickly set up for operation use on-site in minutes.
STI Mobile 300 System:
STI Mobile 300 Specification Sheet (pdf download)
Ebola Virus Information pertaining to safe handling, transportation, treatment and virology
Information regarding EVD (Ebola Virus Disease)
Below is an excerpt from the above web link pertaining to treatment parameters to inactivate EVD Infection control and containment
The risk of transmission is increased among those caring for people infected. Recommended measures when caring for those who are infected include isolating them, sterilizing equipment and surfaces, and wearing protective clothing including masks, gloves, gowns, and goggles.[22] If a person with Ebola dies, direct contact with the body of the deceased patient should be avoided.[22]
In order to reduce the spread, the World Health Organization recommends raising community awareness of the risk factors for Ebola infection and the protective measures individuals can take.[59] These include avoiding contact with infected people and regular hand washing using soap and water.[60] Traditional burial rituals, especially those requiring washing or embalming of bodies, should be discouraged or modified.[61][62] Airline crews are instructed to isolate anyone who has symptoms resembling Ebola virus.[63]
The Ebola virus can be eliminated with heat (heating for 30 to 60 minutes at 60 °C or boiling for 5 minutes). On surfaces, some lipid solvents such as some alcohol-based products, detergents, sodium hypochlorite (bleach) or calcium hypochlorite (bleaching powder), and other suitable disinfectants at appropriate concentrations can be used as disinfectants.[64][65]
In laboratories where diagnostic testing is carried out, biosafety level 4-equivalent containment is required, since Ebola viruses are World Health Organization Risk Group 4 pathogens. Laboratory researchers must be properly trained in BSL-4 practices and wear proper personal protective equipment. NOTE: The STI Waste Treatment System operates with the following parameters:
The STI Series 2000 Waste Treatment System utilizes direct steam treatment (96°C-100° C temperature for ≥ 60 minutes). This is more than adequate to inactive EVD (Ebola Virus Disease).