How much do we throw away in the intensive care unit? An observational point prevalence study of Australian and New Zealand ICUs
Year: 2023
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Objective: During the current COVID pandemic, waste generation has been more evident with increased use of single use masks, gowns and other personal protective equipment. We aimed to understand the scale of waste generation, recycling rates and participation in Australian and New Zealand (ANZ) ICUs. Design: This is a prospective cross-sectional point prevalence study, as part of the 2021 ANZICS Point Prevalence Program. Specific questions related to waste and sustainability practices were asked at the site and patient level. Setting and participants: ANZ adult ICUs and their patients on the day of the study. Main outcome measures: Amount of single use items disposed of per shift, as well as the engagement of the site with sustainability and recycling practices. Results: In total, 712 patients (median number of patients per ICU = 17, IQR 11-30) from 51 ICUs across ANZ were included in our study; 55% of hospitals had a sustainability officer, and recycling paper (86%) and plastics (65%) were frequent, but metal recycling was limited (27%). Per patient bed space per 12-h shift there was recycling of less than 40% paper, glass, intravenous fluid bags, medication cups and metal instruments. A median of 10 gowns (IQR 3-19.5), 10 syringes (4.5-18) and gloves 30 (18-49) were disposed of per bed space, per 12-h shift. These numbers increased significantly when comparing patients with and without infection control precautions in place. Conclusions: In ANZ ICUs, we found utilisation of common ICU consumables to be high and associated with low recycling rates. Interventions to abate resource utilisation and augment recycling are required to improve environmental sustainability in intensive care units.
Source: Critical Care and Resuscitation
Authors: Matthew H. Anstey, Louise Trent, Deepak Bhonagiri, Naomi E. Hammond, Serena Knowles, Forbes McGain, Naomi Hammond, Serena Knowles, Amy Freeman-Sanderson, Subodh Ganu, Belinda Howe, Ed Litton, Diane Mackle, Manoj Saxena, Ian Seppelt, Miriam Towns, Elizabeth Yarad, Hammond, Serena Knowles, Annie Gao, Yang Li, John Myburgh, Ian Seppelt, Conrad Nangla, Fatima Butt, Graeme Duke, Stephanie Hunter, Julie Evans, Dianne Parker, Clare Loughnan, Blessy Thomas, Eileen Gilder, Melissa Robertson, Ellie McMahon, Farisha Ali, Keri-Anne Cowdrey, Colin McArthur, Yan Chen, Catherine Simmonds, Rachael McConnochie, Caroline O'Connor, Khaled El-Khawas, Dianne Hill, Claire Cattigan, Michelle Horton, Jemma Trickey, Cameron Knott, Julie Smith, Catherine Boschert, Treena Sara, Kiran Nand, Graeme Duke, Stephanie Hunter, Julie Evans, Dianne Parker, Clare Loughnan, Blessy Thomas, Mahesh Ramanan, Prashanti Marella, Julia Affleck, Shannon Simpson, Katrina Ellem, Toni McKenna, Mary Nourse, Kristine Leung, Tash Edmunds, Bree McDonald, Jan Mehrtens, Rosalba Cross, Helen Wong, Pawel Twardowski, Dawn France, Gabrielle Hanlon, Jonathan Barrett, Annamaria Palermo, Susan Pellicano, Ege Eroglu, Shailesh Bihari, Julia Brown, Laura Grear, Xia Jin, Craig French, Samantha Bates, Miriam Towns, Fiona Marshall, Rebecca McEldrew, James McCullough, Mandy Tallott, Maimoonbe Gough, Marek Nalos, Laura Younger, Ravi Krishnamurphy, Louise Trent, Janet How, Anne Stuart, Llesley Chadwick, Neeraj Bhadange, Steven Tyler, Kellie Sosnowski, Lynette Morrison, Joanne Sutton, Natalie Soar, David Lee, Graeme Duke, Stephanie Hunter, Julie Evans, Dianne Parker, Clare Loughnan, Marina Doyle, Katherine Jongebloed, Mackenzie Finnis, Jane Wilson, Tony Williams, Rima Song, Vivian Lai, Dinu Girijadevi, Hannah Habraken, Alex Browne, Jette Koelle, Charlotte McNab, Kristy Masters, Rebecca Gresham, Julie Lowrey, Christina Whitehead, Janet Liang, Meg Harward, Cassie Jones, Sandra Peake, Tricia Williams, Catherine Kurenda, Alexis Tabah, Maree Duroux, Timothy Warhurst, Megan Ratcliffe, Hamish Pollock, Stuart Baker, Ravikiran Sonawane, Stephanie O'Connor, Nerissa Brown, Kathleen Glasby, Justine Rivett, Lewis Campbell, Vera Tabuzo, Kirsty Smyth, Elizabeth Yarad, Frances Bass, Naomi Hammond, Anne O'Connor, Anton Leonard, Sharon Waterson, Jennifer Coles, Heidi Buhr, Duncan Newman, Piyaporn Boorawong, Vanessa Bregolin, Ji-Hyun Yun, Matthew Anstey, Lara Rock, Anthadene Endemann, Wei Lo, Janet Ferrier, Annamaria Palermo, Claire Reynolds, John Santamaria, Jennifer Holmes, John Beca, Claire Sherring, Peter Garrett, Lauren Murray, Jane Brailsford, Craig French, Samantha Bates, Miriam Towns, Fiona Marshall, Rebecca McEldrew, Troy Browne, Jennifer Goodson, Andrew Udy, Meredith Young, Jasmin Board, Phoebe McCracken, Emma-Leah Martin, Robert Martynoga, Amelia Butler, Kara Trask, Shaanti Olatunji, Rhoze Sol Cruz, Raulle Sol Cruz, Leanlove Navarra, Kirsha Delaney, Eden Lesona, Chelsea Young, Amelia Spring, April Aguilar, Paul Young, Erin Law
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $2,300
OpenAlex ID: W4382138682