Why is the use of disinfectants to treat collected medical waste streams prior to direct discharge a potential human health hazard?
The limited efficacy of disinfectants/biocides against the biological and pharmaceutical constituents found in collected medical waste streams is coupled with the emerging concern that antibiotic-resistant bacteria may be incubated in municipal sewer systems. There is growing scientific awareness that disinfectants/biocides may be a contributing factor in “…the worldwide increase of antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens and the accompanying treatment failures in human and animal infectious diseases…” and “…current scientific evidence does indicate that the use of certain active substances in biocidal products may contribute to the increased occurrence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, both in humans and in the environment.”, ADOPTION of the SCENIHR opinion concerning the antibiotic resistance effects of biocides (27-01-2009) “Assessment of the Antibiotic Resistance Effects of Biocides”, Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR), Directora
