Protocol for handling Ebola waste has been the subject of debate among infection control groups and even the U.S. Department of Transportation, a debate that was still ongoing while hospitals cared for Ebola patients. One such hospital was Omaha-based Nebraska Medical Center, which detailed how it dealt with Ebola waste in the American Journal of Infection Control.
DOT regulations classify Ebola waste as a category A infectious substance, which means Ebola waste requires stringent processes when being transported. However, it can be transported like regular medical waste if it has been autoclave sterilized before transportation.
So, Nebraska Medical Center developed a plan to convert Ebola waste to regular medical waste. All solid waste, including personal protective equipment, linens and towels, were sent through a pass-through autoclave system. After being sterilized, items were placed in biohazard bags and rigid packaging.
Liquid waste was placed into a toilet and held there with a hospital-grade disinfectant for 2.5 times the recommended time before flushing, according to the report. This method of liquid waste disposal was vetted by stakeholders and goes above and beyond the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance for Ebola liquid waste removal.