AIIMS Nagpur NO- 2020
Medical & Surgical Nursing
Easy
Disposal of expired and cytotoxic drugs is by:
Appeared in: AIIMS Nagpur NO- 2020
Explanation
- Expired and cytotoxic drugs are categorized as hazardous bio-medical waste.
- As per the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016, these drugs are collected in yellow bags.
- The primary treatment is high-temperature incineration (>1200°C) or encapsulation.
- The final residue (ash from incineration) or the encapsulated waste is then disposed of in a specially designed, secure landfill, referred to as a separate landfill for hazardous waste.
Why Other Options Were Wrong
- Option A: Chemical treatment is not effective for destroying the complex and stable molecules of cytotoxic drugs. It is more suitable for liquid wastes like blood or certain disinfectants.
- Option B: Disposing of cytotoxic drugs in municipal waste is strictly prohibited. These drugs are genotoxic (damage genetic material), carcinogenic (cause cancer), and can contaminate soil and water, posing a severe risk to public health and the environment.
- Option D: Autoclaving is a sterilization process that uses high-pressure steam to kill microorganisms. It does not break down or neutralize the chemical structure of cytotoxic drugs, leaving their hazardous properties intact.
Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
- Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Bio-Medical Waste Management guidelines for the disposal of cytotoxic drugs as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
- Nurses have a critical legal and ethical responsibility to ensure the correct segregation and disposal of all medical waste, especially hazardous materials like cytotoxic drugs.
- Improper disposal can lead to occupational exposure for waste handlers, environmental pollution, and public health crises. It can also result in significant legal penalties for the healthcare facility.
- What if? - If a cytotoxic drug spills, all materials used for cleanup (e.g., gloves, gowns, absorbent pads) are also considered cytotoxic waste. They must be placed in the designated yellow container for hazardous waste and not in the general trash.
How to Approach the Question
- First, identify the key terms in the question: 'disposal' and 'cytotoxic drugs'.
- Recognize that cytotoxic drugs are a special category of hazardous bio-medical waste requiring specific handling.
- Recall the color-coding system for bio-medical waste management. Cytotoxic drugs belong to the 'Yellow' category.
- Think about the treatment options for the yellow category. The goal is to destroy the hazardous chemical, not just sterilize it.
- Evaluate the given options: Autoclaving sterilizes but doesn't destroy chemicals. Chemical treatment is inadequate. Municipal waste is forbidden.
- Conclude that the process involves destruction (incineration) followed by disposal of the residue in a secure, separate landfill. Since incineration is not an option, the final disposal step is the best answer.
Concept Tested & Keywords
- Concept Tested: Bio-Medical Waste Management guidelines for the disposal of cytotoxic drugs.
- Stem keywords: Disposal, expired drugs, cytotoxic drugs
- Lead-in keywords: BEST, MOST RELEVANT CLUE
Question ID
QDpIrO3lMGA3PbErCPGFmX
Reference Book
E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart B (pp 233-449 of 464) pp. 109-111, 107-109
Practise the full AIIMS Nagpur NO- 2020
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