Abstract: FR-PO1116
COVID-19's Impact on Dialysis Waste: A Greek Dialysis Group's Experience
Session Information
- COVID-19 - II
November 03, 2023 | Location: Exhibit Hall, Pennsylvania Convention Center
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- 000 Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Authors
- Stamatelou, Kyriaki, Mesogeios Nephrology Center, Haidari, Greece
- Agrogiannis, Ioannis, Mesogeios Nephrology Center, Haidari, Greece
- Giannikos, Vasileios, Mesogeios Nephrology Center, Haidari, Greece
- Vlachonikolou, Aikaterini, Mesogeios Nephrology Center, Haidari, Greece
- Mpountou, Eirini, Mesogeios Nephrology Center, Haidari, Greece
- Vithoulkas, Konstantinos, Mesogeios Nephrology Center, Haidari, Greece
Background
The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the generation of biomedical waste and put enormous strain on waste collection thus damaging the environment. Our dialysis group operates 9 dialysis clinics in Greece treating approximately 1000 patients. We are continuously implementing national regulations-protocols and extra measures protecting patients from COVID-19.
We investigated the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the generation of hazardous and infectious waste amounts and waste production rate in our dialysis clinics.
Methods
We performed routine weighing of all dialysis clinics’ infectious and hazardous waste including: 1.Personal protective equipment(PPE): gloves, gowns, tapes, coveralls, goggles, masks, caps, shoe covers. 2.The SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen test (RAT) components 3.dialyzer filters, circuits, connections. 4.Contaminated single-use material, drapes, gauzes, compresses, bandages, and single-use care kits.
We compared all amounts of waste produced before the pandemic, year 2019, and during the pandemic, years 2020, 2021 and 2022: per waste category, as total categories' aggregates, per dialysis session, per dialysis clinic and for all dialysis clinics.
Results
Aggregated hazardous and infectious waste increased during the pandemic in all our dialysis clinics. Indicatively: Total kilograms of waste discarded were 142361.04, 152978.25, 149448.92 and 166640.5 in the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 respectively. 2022 presented a 4% increase compared to 2019. Per dialysis session Kilograms of waste increased from 0.997191409 in 2019 to 1.018591946 in 2020 and 1.034520114 in 2022.
PPE and RATs were the main attributes of increase. In one dialysis clinic RATs weighted 0, 4.860, 34.956 and 98.217 kilograms in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 respectively.
Conclusion
Dialysis waste management is of paramount importance. In the years following the pandemic, our dialysis clinics' waste generation increased, making efficient waste management even more critical. Our group’s dialysis clinics are currently implementing new, more efficient and environment friendly practices and we trust that their beneficial effects will be soon documented.