Desechos hospitalarios: aspectos metodológicos de su manejo

the main aspects making up a methodology that sets the requirements for the classification, separation, packing, storage, collection, transportation, treatment and final disposal of dangerous wastes from hospitals, mainly those for infection treatment, were set forth in this paper. the methodology developed by the national institute of hygiene, epidemiology and microbiology is aimed at setting priorities for preventive actions on the basis of the harmful effects of such wastes on the human health and the environment. a number of international publications were taken as a reference for working out this methodology which has 7 basic stages. it was tested in two case-studies in hospitals in the city of havana to verify the feasibility of its implementation.