A surgeon discards gloves in a red color bin after surgery. Choose the option according to the question.

NORCET 1 - 2020

Applied Microbiology & Infection control (E5)

Easy

Appeared in: NORCET 1 - 2020

Explanation

The correct answer confirms that the surgeon's action is appropriate according to standard biomedical waste management protocols.
As per the BMW Management Rules, 2016, contaminated recyclable waste made of plastic, such as gloves, catheters, and IV sets, must be segregated into a red-colored bag or container.
This segregation ensures that such items are sent for appropriate treatment like autoclaving or microwaving before being recycled, which prevents the spread of infection and reduces environmental pollution.
The surgeon correctly identified the category of waste and used the designated red bin.

Option A: The yellow bin is designated for human anatomical waste (e.g., tissues, organs), soiled waste (e.g., blood-soaked cotton, dressings), and expired medicines. Gloves do not fall into this category.
Option C: The blue bin or box is used for glassware (like broken vials and ampoules) and metallic body implants. Gloves are made of plastic or rubber, not glass.
Option D: The black bin is for general, non-infectious waste, similar to household trash (e.g., paper wrappers, food waste). Used surgical gloves are contaminated and considered biomedical waste, not general waste.

Visual 1: Infographic: A chart showing the four main colored bins (Yellow, Red, White, Blue) with clear icons and lists of the specific types of medical waste that go into each one.
Visual 2: Flowchart: A decision tree for a healthcare worker titled 'How to Segregate Waste at the Point of Generation,' starting with 'Is the item contaminated?' and leading to the correct bin.
Visual 3: Image: A photograph of correctly segregated biomedical waste bins in a hospital setting, each clearly labeled with the biohazard symbol and color-coded.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Biomedical Waste Management (BMW) and color coding for waste segregation as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Proper waste segregation is a fundamental nursing responsibility and a critical component of infection prevention and control within any healthcare facility.
Incorrect disposal of biomedical waste poses a significant health risk to healthcare workers, patients, and the community through the potential spread of infectious diseases like HIV and Hepatitis B/C.
Adherence to BMW guidelines is a legal requirement in India (under the Environment Protection Act, 1986), and non-compliance can lead to penalties for the healthcare facility.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key item in the question: 'gloves'.
Next, recall the categories of biomedical waste. Gloves are plastic items contaminated with potentially infectious material.
Access your knowledge of the color-coding system for biomedical waste management.
Match the item (contaminated plastic gloves) to the correct color. Recyclable contaminated waste goes into the red bin.
Evaluate the options based on this match. The option stating the surgeon's action was correct is the right answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Biomedical Waste Management (BMW) and color coding for waste segregation.
Stem keywords: surgeon, discards gloves, red color bin, after surgery
Lead-in keywords: Choose the option
Negative lead-in flag: false

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