A collective responsibility for a safer world

Infectious medical waste: the invisible diseases threatening healthcare workers

19 June 2025

5 min.

Every day, tonnes of infectious healthcare waste are generated in hospitals, clinics, laboratories, care homes, and even private homes. Behind a seemingly harmless used needle or soiled dressing may lurk invisible yet formidable pathogens. Hepatitis, HIV, antibiotic-resistant staphylococci… the dangers are real and often underestimated. In a global context of heightened health vigilance, understanding and controlling these risks has become a public health priority.

Waste unlike any other

Not all waste resulting from healthcare activities is created equal. Infectious Healthcare Waste (IHW) – in French, Déchets d’Activités de Soins à Risques Infectieux (DASRI) – includes materials that may contain microorganisms capable of causing infections in humans or animals. This waste is produced in various environments: hospitals, GP surgeries, vaccination centres, diagnostic laboratories, and also during home care procedures.

It includes used needles, syringes, catheters, dressings, gloves, swabs, contaminated test tubes, and even anatomical parts. Its handling requires utmost care, as improper disposal or contact can expose individuals to potentially incurable infections.

Transmission methods: infection at your fingertips

The key danger of IHW lies in its capacity to transmit infectious agents. Unlike household rubbish, this material can remain hazardous for hours or even days, depending on the conditions.

Contamination may occur in several ways:

Through needlestick injuries or cuts from contaminated sharp objects.
Through contact with broken skin or mucous membranes, particularly when handling waste without protection.
Via projection or splatter of biological fluids during transport or sorting.
By inhalation of contaminated aerosols during certain treatments or when opening non-compliant waste bags.

Each unprotected action can therefore turn into the starting point of a preventable infection.

Silent but serious diseases transmitted through hospital waste

A number of infections can be contracted via IHW. Some are well-known to the general public, while others are less so. Below is a summary of the main infectious risks identified in healthcare field:

Pathogen	Associated disease	Mode of transmission
Hepatitis B virus (HBV)	Hepatitis B	Blood, needlesticks, skin contact
Hepatitis C virus (HCV)	Hepatitis C	Blood, needlesticks
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)	AIDS	Blood, bodily fluids, needlesticks
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)	Nosocomial infections, sepsis	Skin contact, aerosol
Mycobacterium tuberculosis	Tuberculosis	Aerosol, indirect contact
Clostridium difficile	Infectious colitis	Faecal contact via contaminated objects
Candida albicans	Fungal infections, opportunistic infections	Contact, immunosuppression

These diseases can lead to severe, even fatal outcomes and often require intensive treatment. In some cases, no definitive cure exists (such as for hepatitis C or HIV), making prevention absolutely crucial.

The most exposed professions, those most in contact with medical waste

Contrary to popular belief, doctors are not the only ones at risk. Many incidents involving IHW affect professionals who often work behind the scenes:

Nurses and care assistants, who handle waste directly at its source.
Cleaning and waste collection staff, often less trained yet in daily contact with IHW.
Waste treatment technicians, responsible for sterilisation, transport, or shredding.
Patients and home caregivers, particularly when self-care procedures are poorly supervised.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 2 million sharp-related injuries are reported each year among healthcare professionals worldwide, resulting in approximately 66,000 hepatitis B infections, 16,000 hepatitis C cases, and 1,000 HIV infections.

Prevention, training, innovation: pillars of responsible management

To mitigate these risks, several key measures exist and must be deployed at all levels of the care and waste management chain.

Use standardised, secure containers
IHW must be disposed of immediately after use into rigid, leak-proof, sealed and certified containers to prevent spills or accidental injury.
Educate and raise staff awareness
Regular, role-specific training is essential to reinforce good practices, safety protocols, and the importance of correct sorting.
Adopt eco-friendly treatment technologies
Incineration, long used as a disposal method, is now criticised for its pollutant emissions. Innovative alternatives exist: machines developed by companies like Ecosteryl use a combination of microwaves and dry shredding to effectively neutralise pathogens — without combustion, water, or toxic emissions.

These solutions not only significantly reduce the medical sector’s carbon footprint but also ensure biosafety by sterilising infectious waste thoroughly.

A shared responsibility for global health

The management of infectious medical waste is a silent but vital challenge. It calls upon the responsibility of healthcare institutions, public authorities, manufacturers, and each healthcare worker. By reducing transmission risks, adopting sustainable technologies, and fostering a culture of prevention, we can ensure that medical waste does not become a vector of contamination.

At a time when health systems are under strain from pandemics, economic crises, and environmental pressures, rethinking how we handle IHW is more than just a necessity — it’s a commitment to global health.