According to the latest WHO guidelines, in which container should a pus-soiled cotton swab be discarded?

Appeared in: NORCET 2 - 2021 (shift-1)

Explanation

A pus-soiled cotton swab is classified as 'Soiled Waste' under biomedical waste management guidelines.
Soiled waste includes items contaminated with blood or other body fluids, such as dressings, plaster casts, and cotton swabs.
According to WHO and national guidelines (like India's Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016), all soiled waste must be segregated into the yellow-colored bag for incineration or deep burial.

Option B: The red bag is designated for contaminated but recyclable waste, which primarily consists of plastic items.
Option C: The black bag is used for general, non-infectious waste, similar to household trash. Disposing of infectious material in it poses a significant risk of spreading disease.
Option D: Cardboard boxes are not used for soft, infectious waste. They are typically used for non-contaminated packaging or, if specially marked (usually with a blue symbol), for certain types of glass waste.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Biomedical Waste Management and Color Coding as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Proper waste segregation is a fundamental nursing responsibility to prevent nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infections and protect healthcare workers, patients, and the community from infectious agents.
Incorrect disposal increases the risk of injury (e.g., sharps in a plastic bag) and environmental contamination, and also raises waste management costs by unnecessarily treating general waste as infectious.
What if? - If the cotton swab was used to apply a non-hazardous cream to intact, healthy skin (and was not soiled with blood or pus), it could be considered general waste and placed in the black bin.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key item in the question: 'pus-soiled cotton swab'.
Recognize that 'pus' is a body fluid, which classifies the swab as infectious 'soiled waste'.
Recall the standard color-coding system for biomedical waste management.
Match the type of waste (infectious, soiled soft waste) to the correct color-coded container, which is Yellow.
Eliminate the other options by recalling their specific uses: Red for recyclable plastics, Black for general waste, and Cardboard for packaging or glassware.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Biomedical Waste Management and Color Coding
Stem keywords: pus-soiled cotton swab, discarded, container, WHO guidelines
Lead-in keywords: in which
Clinical cues: The presence of 'pus' on the cotton swab is the key clinical cue, as it signifies infectious material.

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E6 Comprehensive Textbook of Community Health Nursing for BSc Nursing Students Part 2 — Subpart B (pp 276-535 of 550) p. 191-193

Practise the full NORCET 2 - 2021 (shift-1)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.