Quantifying and qualifying hospital pharmaceutical waste: a case study in Tehran, Iran

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Hospital Waste Management
• Pharmaceutical Waste Analysis

Background:

• Hospital waste poses significant pathogenicity and environmental risks.
• Effective hospital waste management relies on accurate quantitative data.
• Understanding waste streams is crucial for developing targeted solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantitatively assess pharmaceutical waste and drug residue generation in a hospital setting.
• To determine per capita waste production rates per patient and hospital bed.
• To identify key contributors to pharmaceutical waste, including specific drug types and hospital departments.

Main Methods:

• Daily medication usage logs were used to quantify pharmaceutical waste.
• Vial containers, residue, syringe, and serum wastes were weighed separately.
• Overall and per capita waste production were calculated.

Main Results:

• Pharmaceutical waste and drug residue averaged 153.82 kg/day and 45.87 kg/day, respectively.
• Per capita pharmaceutical waste was 181.81 g/patient/day and 264.7 g/bed/day.
• Antibiotics in vials constituted the highest waste percentage; emergency and operating rooms generated the most waste.

Conclusions:

• The hospital exhibits relatively high pharmaceutical waste production.
• Factors influencing waste generation include management practices, healthcare type, and patient demographics.
• Targeted interventions in high-waste-generating areas and departments are recommended.