Comparison of microwave and autoclave treatment for biomedical waste disinfection

Evaluation of pre-treated healthcare wastes during COVID-19 pandemic reveals pathogenic microbiota, antibiotics residues, and antibiotic resistance genes against beta-lactams

“…The diversification of fungal in the HCW may be linked with mycological contamination in the air and on the surface, which has been frequently observed in hospital settings and might contribute to fungal infections ( Jackson and Chiller, 2018 ; Jalili et al, 2021 ). Our results contradicted the findings of Kollu et al (2022) and Wang et al (2020) , who reported that microwave radiation can effectively destroy fungi as demonstrated by microbial log reduction. This may be due to the component of the cell wall (chitin) in fungi, which provides additional support and makes them more resistant to radiation than bacteria, which are less likely to be killed by microwave radiation ( Wu and Yao, 2010 ).…”

“…Multiple studies have been undertaken to examine microbial inactivation using microwave treatment in contaminated solid HCW but none have documented the complete microbial population after microwave treated HCW ( Banana et al, 2013 ; Kollu et al, 2022 ). Our findings were partially consistent to Mahdi & Gomes (2019) and Mawioo et al (2017) whereby microorganisms such as Bacillus, Clostridium and Enterococcus faecalis were still discovered in HCW after microwave treatment.…”

A Review of the Impact That Healthcare Risk Waste Treatment Technologies Have on the Environment

“…Autoclaves are heated up to 121 • C for about 30 min and steam gets added into the process to maintain the required temperature. The purpose of the steam jacket is to reduce condensation in the vessels thereby preventing heat loss [73]. The steam is supplied into the system via boilers and electricity is used to heat the boilers [73].…”

“…The purpose of the steam jacket is to reduce condensation in the vessels thereby preventing heat loss [73]. The steam is supplied into the system via boilers and electricity is used to heat the boilers [73].…”

“…It works by converting electrical energy to microwave energy. The microwave energy is then used to generate steam from the moisture that is in the HCRW to be treated [73]. Some microwave methods apply lowfrequency radio waves that inactivate all of the microorganisms that are in the HCRW [63].…”