INFECTIVE BIOLOGICAL WASTE DISPOSAL BETWEEN 2011 AND 2017: A IMS/CAT/UFBA PERSPECTIVE IN HARMONY WITH THE ENVIRONMENT

The adequate management of biological wastes is of great importance for prevention of microbiological hazards to the environment. The inadequate deposition of wastes may lead to water and ground contamination, affecting directly individuals who get in contact with these precursors. The main contamination cause is the presence of pathogenic microorganisms involved in the discarded waste coming from materials used in practical classes and scientific research. The “Instituto Multidisciplinar em Saúde, Campus Anísio Teixeira da Universidade Federal da Bahia (IMS/CAT/UFBA)” promotes teaching and research, and currently has 30 laboratories, in which the researchers are in direct contact with pathogens, many of them, multiresistant. For the correct disposal of these components, is necessary to adopt an adequate collect, quantification and discarding protocol, as well as awareness of the individuals involved in those procedures, resulting in the reduction of risks of accidents that may result in the proliferation of infectious microorganisms. The management and collect of the laboratorial waste of IMS/CAT/UFBA are done obeying a safety protocol based on the instructions of Conama 358/05 and RDC 306/04 resolutions. A descriptive statistics was applied for description and compilation of a set of data, grouping them in charts and graphs regarding the academic years of 2011 to 2017. The institution deposed 4981 kg of infected biological waste in this period, averaging 712 kg a year. In 2016, there was an accentuation in the amount of waste (1018 kg) as consequence of the increase of practical classes in the institution, as well as the implementation of a new graduation course. However, in 2011, the institution discarded the least amount (349 kg) because of a variety of reasons, among them, the beginning of the activities of environmental management in April of this year. A reduction of disposal can be noticed in 2014 as well (545 kg), when a federal workers strike stopped practical classes and decreased research activities. An important point is that the infected waste is discarded in a specific landfill for this type of waste. Besides, this work has the mission to aware the academic community about the disposal of microbiological waste produced by the institution.