KR102601062B1 - How to dispose of medical waste containers - Google Patents

Abstract

[Project] Provide a method of safely and easily disposing medical waste that may contain harmful microorganisms within a medical waste container.
[Solution] A method of processing a medical waste container containing medical waste containing harmful microorganisms, comprising the step of applying a liquid containing chlorine dioxide gas and chlorite into the medical waste container, wherein the liquid is the chlorine dioxide gas. A method comprising a composition that releases sustained-release is provided.

Description

How to dispose of medical waste containers

The present invention relates to a method for treating medical waste containers containing medical waste containing harmful microorganisms using a liquid containing chlorine dioxide gas and chlorite.

Recently, emerging and resurgent infectious diseases such as Ebola hemorrhagic fever and new influenza have occurred all over the world and are becoming a major problem. Wastes that patients with these infectious diseases have come into contact with (e.g., rags or tissue paper with the patient's body fluids) or medical instruments (e.g., syringes) used to treat these patients can become sources of infection, so they should be appropriately treated as medical waste. needs to be dealt with.

Because medical waste may contain pathogens that infect humans or animals, it needs to be treated under a higher level of management than general waste. In general, medical waste is disposed of/preserved in a dedicated medical waste container and then sterilized by incineration or autoclave, or recovered/processed by a professional. However, there is always a possibility that pathogens that have grown in a medical waste container or attached near the entrance of the medical waste container may spread outside the medical waste container and pose a risk of infection when handling the medical waste container.

In most laboratories and medical institutions, disinfection by wiping or spraying with an alcohol-based agent is performed to inactivate harmful microorganisms. Because the sterilizing ability of volatile alcohol is low, it is essential for general-purpose alcohol-based chemicals to be effective if the chemical liquid directly contacts the target microorganism. In other words, it was difficult to disinfect microorganisms attached to areas that the drug did not directly contact with the disinfection method using alcohol-based agents (for example, in the case of medical waste with a complex three-dimensional shape, etc.).

While chlorine dioxide gas is a safe gas for animal living organisms at low concentrations, it is known to have a deactivating or deodorizing effect on microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses even at such low concentrations. Methods for treating medical waste using chlorine dioxide have been proposed so far, but in order to penetrate the disinfection effect of chlorine dioxide into every corner of the medical waste, it is necessary to continuously expose it to chlorine dioxide, which requires a large-scale device ( For example, Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2), it was insufficient for general purpose, as it was necessary to pulverize medical waste and immerse it in a disinfectant solution containing chlorine dioxide (for example, Patent Document 3).

Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-31164 Japanese Patent Publication No. 8-24324 Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-39004

As described above, no method has been provided so far to safely and easily dispose of medical waste that may contain harmful microorganisms in a medical waste container.

While studying the properties of solutions containing chlorine dioxide, the present inventors applied a solution containing chlorine dioxide gas and chlorite to a space. Surprisingly, compared to the case where a solution containing only chlorine dioxide gas dissolved in the space was applied to the space, the amount of dioxide in the space was reduced. It was discovered that the chlorine gas concentration was maintained for a very long time (see Example 1 herein).

Furthermore, the present inventors discovered that medical waste containers, including medical waste, could be disposed of easily and safely by utilizing the above properties of a solution containing chlorine dioxide gas and chlorite, and completed the present invention.

That is, in one embodiment, the method of the present invention is a method of treating a medical waste container containing medical waste accompanied by harmful microorganisms, comprising the step of applying a liquid agent containing chlorine dioxide gas and chlorite into the medical waste container, , the liquid agent relates to a method characterized in that it has a composition that releases the chlorine dioxide gas in a sustained manner.

In addition, in one embodiment of the method of the present invention, the composition of the liquid agent includes a concentration of chlorine dioxide gas of 10 to 2000 ppm and chlorite of 0.05% by weight to 10% by weight, and further comprising: The pH of the liquid is characterized in that it is prepared within the range of 4.5 to 6.5.

In addition, in one embodiment of the method of the present invention, the application of the liquid agent is characterized by spraying the liquid agent into a medical waste container or installing a container containing the liquid agent into a medical waste container.

Additionally, in one embodiment of the method of the present invention, the harmful microorganism is an infectious microorganism.

In addition, in one embodiment of the method of the present invention, the liquid agent is characterized in that it contains 50 to 1000 ppm of chlorine dioxide gas.

In addition, in one embodiment of the method of the present invention, the liquid agent is characterized in that it contains 0.1% by weight to 5.0% by weight of chlorite.

In addition, in one embodiment of the method of the present invention, the pH of the liquid is in the range of 5.5 to 6.0.

In addition, in one embodiment of the method of the present invention, the application of the liquid agent is characterized in that the liquid agent does not directly contact at least some of the harmful microorganisms.

In addition, in one embodiment of the method of the present invention, the application of the liquid agent is characterized in that the liquid agent does not directly contact all of the harmful microorganisms.

Additionally, in one embodiment of the method of the present invention, the treatment reduces the spread of the harmful microorganisms.

In addition, inventions combining one or several features of the above-mentioned inventions are also included in the scope of the present invention.

As also shown in the examples herein, when the liquid agent used in the method of the present invention is applied into a medical waste container, the chlorine dioxide gas concentration in the medical waste remains high for a long time. Therefore, according to the method of the present invention, since every corner of the medical waste in the medical waste container is exposed to chlorine dioxide gas, harmful microorganisms attached to the medical waste can be efficiently treated, and the harmful microorganisms can spread from the medical waste container. can be reduced. That is, in the method of the present invention, even if the applied drug does not directly contact some of the harmful microorganisms attached to the medical waste (or the applied liquid does not directly contact the microorganisms attached to the medical waste at all), it can be used in a medical waste container. It can have a disinfecting effect on virtually all harmful microorganisms in the body.

That is, the present invention provides a method of safely and conveniently disposing medical waste, which may contain harmful microorganisms, in a medical waste container.

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the test of Example 1 herein.
Figure 2 is a graph showing the temporal trend of the chlorine dioxide concentration in the chamber when the chlorine dioxide liquid agent of the present invention is sprayed into the chamber and when a simple chlorine dioxide gas dissolved solution is sprayed into the chamber.
Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the test of Example 2 herein.
Figure 4 is a photograph of the medical waste container used in the test of Example 2 herein.
Figure 5 is a diagram showing the flow of the test evaluation method in Example 2 of the present application.
Figure 6 is a graph showing the number of bacterial survival in glass petri dish A before the test and 60 minutes after the start of the test.
Figure 7 is a graph showing the number of bacterial survival in glass petri dish B before the test and 60 minutes after the start of the test.
Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the experiment of Example 3 herein.
Figure 9 shows the results of the first experiment in Example 3 herein.
Figure 10 shows the results of the second experiment in Example 3 herein.

The present invention relates to a method for processing medical waste containers containing medical waste carrying harmful microorganisms.

Medical waste at this hospital is not limited to waste discharged in connection with medical practices and includes all waste that can become a source of infection. For example, instruments used in medical practice (e.g. needles, syringes, gloves, masks, etc.), instruments used in biological experiments, etc. (e.g. petri dishes with attached microorganisms, media, microchips, etc.), blood of patients with infectious diseases Paper and foam with body fluids attached are also included in medical waste in this specification.

A medical waste container in this specification is a container for storing medical waste, and its shape and structure are not particularly limited. From the viewpoint of preventing the spread of infectious microorganisms, it is desirable that the medical waste container to which the present invention is applied has a high airtightness. However, even if it does not have complete airtightness, the present invention can be suitably applied as long as it has a somewhat closed structure. Additionally, the method of the present invention can also be applied to medical waste containers having multiple compartments, as long as each compartment is fluidly communicated (if the compartments are not fluidly communicated with each other). The intended effect can be obtained by applying the method of the present invention to each compartment).

The method of the present invention includes applying a liquid containing chlorine dioxide gas and chlorite into a medical waste container. The liquid used in the method of the present invention contains a concentration of 10 to 2000 ppm of chlorine dioxide gas and 0.05% to 10% by weight of chlorite, and the pH of the liquid is adjusted to range from 4.5 to 6.5. It is preferable that it is a liquid formulation. Preferably, the concentration of chlorine dioxide gas contained in the liquid agent may be 50 to 1000 ppm, and more preferably 100 to 600 ppm. Additionally, preferably, the concentration of chlorite contained in the liquid may be 0.1% to 5.0% by weight, and more preferably 0.5% to 2.5% by weight. If the pH of the solution is lower than 4.5, the chlorite in the liquid reacts excessively and releases chlorine dioxide gas, making it difficult to control the amount of chlorine dioxide gas released, and further deteriorating the storage stability of the liquid. Additionally, if the pH of the liquid is higher than 6.5, the reactivity of chlorite in the liquid decreases, and an appropriate amount of chlorine dioxide gas is no longer released. It is more preferable that the pH of the solution is in the range of 5.5 to 6.0. Additionally, the chlorine dioxide gas concentration, chlorite concentration, and pH in the liquid agent can be arbitrarily combined within the above ranges.

The liquid agent used in the method of the present invention can be prepared, for example, as follows. First, (a) dissolve chlorite in water to prepare an aqueous chlorite solution of 2000 to 180000 ppm, (b) prepare an aqueous chlorine dioxide solution of 100 to 2900 ppm by dissolving chlorine dioxide gas, and (a) and ( After mixing b), mix a pH adjuster into this solution to make a chlorine dioxide solution. In addition, the concentration of the chlorite aqueous solution and the concentration of the chlorine dioxide aqueous solution in the above production method can be appropriately adjusted by a person skilled in the art depending on the composition of the target liquid.

By adjusting the liquid by the above method, the concentration of dissolved chlorine dioxide in the liquid can be freely adjusted from high concentration to low concentration. In addition, since the liquid agent used in the method of the present invention contains chlorine dioxide gas and chlorite, when chlorine dioxide gas is released into the air from the liquid agent, the chlorine dioxide gas concentration in the liquid agent decreases, but due to chemical equilibrium, Chlorine dioxide is supplied into the liquid agent, and as a result, the chlorine dioxide gas concentration in the liquid agent is maintained almost constant. According to these results, the liquid used in the present invention can release chlorine dioxide gas into the air in a sustained manner over a long period of time. In addition, if the pH of the liquid is adjusted to be within the range of 4.5 to 6.5, the balance between the amount of chlorine dioxide gas released from the liquid and the supply of chlorine dioxide from the chlorite is maintained appropriately, allowing chlorine dioxide gas at an almost constant concentration for a longer period of time. It can be released.

Examples of chlorite contained in the liquid used in the method of the present invention include alkali metal chlorite and alkaline earth metal chlorite. Examples of alkali metal chlorite salts include sodium chlorite, potassium chlorite, and lithium chlorite, and examples of alkaline earth metal chlorite salts include calcium chlorite, magnesium chlorite, and barium chlorite. Among them, sodium chlorite and potassium chlorite are preferable because they are easy to obtain, and sodium chlorite is most preferable. These chlorites may be used individually, or two or more types may be used in combination.

Any pH adjuster for preparing the liquid used in the method of the present invention may be used by those skilled in the art. For example, phosphoric acid, boric acid, metaphosphoric acid, pyrophosphoric acid, sulfamic acid, acetic acid, citric acid, or salts thereof may be used. Inorganic acids or their salts are preferred because they provide excellent storage stability. Among them, it has excellent storage stability, can minimize changes in liquid content (pH) during storage, and can thereby exert excellent sterilizing, antiviral, antifungal, and deodorizing effects. It is preferable to use phosphoric acid or its salt (for example, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, a mixture of sodium dihydrogen phosphate and sodium hydrogen phosphate, etc.), and it is more preferable to use sodium hydrogen phosphate. In addition, one type of pH adjuster may be used individually, or two or more types may be used together.

In the method of the present invention, the method of applying the liquid into the medical waste container is arbitrary, for example, the liquid can be applied by spraying the liquid into the medical waste container, or by installing the container containing the liquid into the medical waste container. It can be applied. From the viewpoint that the effect is effective immediately after application and the effect lasts for a relatively long time, it is more preferable to apply the liquid by spraying.

Additionally, as also disclosed in the examples herein, when the liquid agent used in the method of the present invention is applied into a medical waste container, the chlorine dioxide gas concentration in the medical waste remains high for a long time. Therefore, according to the method of the present invention, since every corner of the medical waste in the medical waste container is exposed to chlorine dioxide gas, harmful microorganisms attached to the medical waste can be efficiently treated, and the harmful microorganisms can spread from the medical waste container. can be reduced. That is, in the method of the present invention, even if the applied liquid does not directly contact some of the harmful microorganisms attached to the medical waste (or even if the applied liquid does not directly contact the microorganisms attached to the medical waste at all), it can be used within the medical waste container. It can have a disinfecting effect on virtually all harmful microorganisms.

Harmful microorganisms in the method of the present invention broadly include microorganisms that can adversely affect humans and animals, and particularly include microorganisms that are infectious to humans and animals. For example, harmful microorganisms in the present invention include viruses, bacteria, fungi, archaea, parasitic organisms (eg, parasites, parasitic arthropods), and infectious proteins (eg, aberrant prion proteins). Viruses to which the method of the present invention can be applied include viruses with an envelope or without an envelope, such as chickenpox/herpes zoster virus, influenza virus (human, avian, swine, etc.), herpes simplex virus, adenovirus, enterovirus, Rhinovirus, human papillomavirus (human papillomavirus), poxvirus, coxsackie virus, herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus, EB virus, adenovirus, papillomavirus, JC virus, parvovirus, hepatitis B virus, C Hepatitis virus, Lassa virus, feline calicivirus, norovirus, sapovirus, coronavirus, SARS virus, rubella virus, mumps virus, measles virus, RS virus, poliovirus, coxsackie virus, echovirus, Marburg virus, Examples include Ebola virus, yellow fever virus, bunavirovirus, rabies virus, reoviridae virus, rotavirus, human immunodeficiency virus, human T-lymph aerobic virus, simian immunodeficiency virus, and STLV. In addition, bacteria to which the method of the present invention can be applied include Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Syphilis, Neisseria meningitidis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, acid-fast bacilli, and Klebsiella ( Klebsiella pneumoniae), Salmonella, Botulinus, Proteus, Pertussis, Serratia, Vibrio enteritis, Citrobacter, Acinetobacter, Campylobacter, Enterobacter, Mycoplasma, Chlamydia, Clostridium, etc. there is. In addition, examples of fungi to which the method of the present invention can be applied include Aspergillus, Trichophyton, Malassezia, and Candida.

Terms used herein are used to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention.

In addition, the term "comprises" used in this specification is intended to indicate the presence of the described matters (members, steps, elements, or numbers, etc.), except in cases where a different understanding is clearly required from the context. does not exclude the presence of matters (members, steps, elements or numbers, etc.).

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical terms and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as widely understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Terms used herein, unless otherwise specified, should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the meaning in this specification and related technical fields, and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense.

The embodiment of the present invention may be explained with reference to a schematic diagram, which may be exaggerated for clarity of explanation.

When expressed herein, for example, as “1 to 10%,” one skilled in the art will recognize that the expression specifically refers to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10% individually. I understand.

In this specification, all values used to indicate ingredient content or numerical range are interpreted as including the meaning of the term “about” unless specifically specified. For example, “10 times” is understood to mean “about 10 times” unless otherwise specified.

The entire disclosures of documents cited in this specification will be deemed to be incorporated in this specification, and those skilled in the art will understand the relevant disclosures in such prior art documents without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention according to the context of this specification. It is understood by reference as part of the specification.

In the following, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples. However, the present invention can be implemented in various aspects and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments described herein.

Example

Example 1 : Effect of the chlorine dioxide liquid agent of the present invention on maintaining chlorine dioxide concentration in space

<Preparation of chlorine dioxide solution>

The chlorine dioxide liquid according to the present invention was prepared as follows. First, 17 L of water was added to 500 ml of a 25% by weight solution of sodium chlorite to prepare an aqueous sodium chlorite solution. After that, 1000 ml of chlorine dioxide aqueous solution in which 2000 ppm of chlorine dioxide gas was dissolved was prepared, mixed with the above-mentioned sodium chlorite aqueous solution, and stirred. Next, sodium dihydrogen phosphate and water in an amount such that the pH of the solution was 5.5 to 6.0 were added and stirred. In this way, 20 L of chlorine dioxide liquid containing chlorine dioxide gas, sodium chlorite, and sodium dihydrogen phosphate was obtained (i.e., a solution containing 0.625% by weight of sodium chlorite and 100 ppm of chlorine dioxide gas was obtained with a pH of 5.5 to 6.0. ). In this embodiment, this chlorine dioxide liquid agent is referred to as “chlorine dioxide liquid agent of the present invention.”

The chlorine dioxide gas dissolved solution used as a comparative example in this example was prepared by dissolving chlorine dioxide gas generated by adding hydrochloric acid to sodium chlorite in water (that is, it is simply a solution of chlorine dioxide gas dissolved in water). In this example, this solution is referred to as “chlorine dioxide gas dissolved solution.”

<Experiment method>

Figure 1 shows an outline of the experiment of this example. A 1 m ³ chamber was prepared, and the chlorine dioxide liquid or chlorine dioxide gas dissolved solution of the present invention was sprayed three times. While the air in the chamber was stirred by two fans, the chlorine dioxide gas concentration in the chamber was measured over time using a gas detection tube.

<Result>

The experimental results are shown in Figure 2. As shown in Figure 2, when chlorine dioxide gas dissolved solution was sprayed, the chlorine dioxide gas concentration rapidly decreased and became below the detection limit after 1.5 hours. On the other hand, when the chlorine dioxide solution of the present invention was sprayed, the gas concentration was maintained for about 2 hours, then decreased gently, and was maintained at about 40% of the initial concentration even after 8 hours.

That is, surprisingly, it was shown that the chlorine dioxide liquid agent of the present invention has the property of maintaining the chlorine dioxide gas concentration in the space for a very long time when sprayed into the space.

Example 2 : Sterilization of microorganisms in medical waste containers using the chlorine dioxide liquid of the present invention

<Experiment method>

Figure 3 shows an outline of the experiment of this example. Additionally, the chlorine dioxide liquid used in this example is a chlorine dioxide liquid prepared by the same method as that described in Example 1.

First, a medical waste container (40 L) (FIG. 4) used in hospitals, etc. was prepared, and a partition was installed in the center of the container (up to 2/3 of the height of the container). A dishwasher with E. coli attached to it was installed on the outside of one partitioned area (installation A), and the same dishwasher was installed inside on the other side (installation B). 83% ethanol or the chlorine dioxide liquid of the present invention was sprayed toward the petri dish of installation A, and 1 hour later, E. coli was recovered from the petri dish of installation A and installation B, and the number of viable bacteria was measured according to a conventional method. An outline of the evaluation method is shown in Figure 5.

<Result>

The experimental results are shown in Figures 6 and 7. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, in installation A, both 83% ethanol and the chlorine dioxide liquid of the present invention inactivated E. coli, but in installation B (the area opposite to the sprayed area), only the chlorine dioxide liquid of the present invention inactivated E. coli. It was possible to deactivate it. When the chlorine dioxide liquid agent was sprayed, the chlorine dioxide gas concentration in the container was 3.3 ppm. This result suggests that chlorine dioxide gas was generated from the sprayed chlorine dioxide liquid, and the gas inactivated the E. coli installed inside the remote location.

In other words, according to the chlorine dioxide liquid of the present invention, not only can microorganisms be disinfected in the area where the liquid is directly applied, but the chlorine dioxide concentration in the container to which the liquid is applied is maintained over a long period of time, thereby maintaining the chlorine dioxide concentration in the container where the liquid is applied, in areas where the liquid is not directly applied. It becomes possible to disinfect even the corners of a container (for example, corners of a container that do not come into direct contact with the liquid or corners of waste with a complex structure). In addition, according to the chlorine dioxide liquid of the present invention, the disinfection effect is indirectly achieved to every corner of the medical waste by simply applying the liquid to a specific space of the container containing the medical waste without directly applying it to the medical waste subject to disinfection. Since this can be done, it is possible to provide a disinfection method that minimizes the risk of medical workers, etc. coming into contact with medical waste.

For example, if an infectious disease with a high fatality rate, such as new influenza, Ebola hemorrhagic fever, or MERS, becomes prevalent, it is expected that a large amount of waste suspected to contain infectious agents will be generated in a short period of time. By applying the method of the present invention to containers storing such waste, it becomes possible to more simply and safely block the source of infection (or reduce the risk of harmful microorganisms spreading from the waste container).

Example 3 : Inactivation of viruses in medical waste containers using the chlorine dioxide liquid of the present invention

<Materials and Methods>

Test virus: feline calicivirus (FCV, F9, ATCC VR-782) (used as a replacement for norovirus)

Host cells: Crandell Reese feline kidney cells (CRFK, ATCC CCL-94)

Chlorine dioxide gas generation source: Chlorine dioxide liquid prepared in the same manner as described in Example 1

laboratory equipment

· 1m ³ chamber (made to order)

· 96-hole microplate (353072, FALCON)

· 96-hole deep well plate (BM6030, BM Bio)

· Reagent Reservoirs/Tip-Tub (022265806, eppendorf)

· AC FAN (MU825S-13N, ORIX)

· Glass Chalet (305-02, Top)

· Cell scraper (179693, Thermo)

· Gas detection tube (No.23L chlorine dioxide, gas tech)

laboratory equipment

· CO2 incubator (MCO-175AICUVH, PANASONIC)

· Thermohygrometer (TR-72wf, T & D)

experiment material

· Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium-high glucose(D-MEM,D5796,SIGMA)

· Dulbecco's Phosphate Buffered Saline (D8537, SIGMA)

· 0.25% Trypsin Solution (35555-54, Nacalai tesque)

· Fetal Bovine Serum(FBS,30-2020,ATCC)

· EDTA Disodium Salt 2% Solution in PBS Saline(2820549,MP)

Adjustment of virus suspension:

Feline calicivirus (10 ^8.5 TCID50/50μL), which had been frozen and preserved at -80°C, was diluted to 10 ^7-7.5 TCID50/50μL in 1% FBS solution to prepare a virus suspension.

Virus recovery solution (neutralization solution):

120 μL of 2% FBS D-MEM (anti+) containing 1mM sodium thiosulfate solution (*) was used as the virus recovery solution.

(*) 1mM sodium thiosulfate solution has a concentration that can neutralize 0.1ppmv chlorine dioxide gas without problem.

Experimental method (see Figure 8):

A petri dish into which 1 μl of feline calicivirus suspension (10 ^{7 to 7.5} TCID ₅₀ /50 μL) supplemented with 1% FBS (fetal bovine serum) was added dropwise was placed in part B in a 1 m ³ chamber. After installation, the chlorine dioxide liquid of the present invention was sprayed at a location approximately 70 cm away from the installed petri dish. The dropped FCV was neutralized by exposing it to chlorine dioxide gas generated by spraying the chlorine dioxide liquid agent of the present invention for each hour, and then the virus was recovered, and the virus infection rate at each hour was determined and evaluated. Similarly, the case where water was sprayed instead of the chlorine dioxide solution of the present invention was controlled.

Chlorine dioxide gas concentration:

The chlorine dioxide gas concentration in the 1m ³ chamber was measured by a detection tube.

<Result>

The experiment was conducted twice.

The results of the first experiment are shown in Figure 9. In the first experiment, when the chlorine dioxide solution of the present invention was sprayed, the average chlorine dioxide gas concentration in the chamber was 0.1ppmv (min; 0.075ppmv, max; 0.1ppmv). In the control where water was sprayed instead of the chlorine dioxide solution of the present invention, the virus titer 10 minutes after spraying was 10 ^6.3 TCID ₅₀ /50μL, but when the chlorine dioxide solution of the present invention was sprayed, it was 10 ^2.8 TCID ₅₀ /50μL (3.5 log ₁₀ reduction). Additionally, 15 minutes after spraying, the virus titer in the control was 10 ^4.5 TCID ₅₀ /50 μL, but when the chlorine dioxide solution of the present invention was sprayed, it became 10 ^2.3 TCID ₅₀ /50 μL (2.2 log ₁₀ reduction). 30 minutes after spraying, the virus titer in the control was 10 ^5.5 TCID ₅₀ /50 μL, but when the chlorine dioxide solution of the present invention was sprayed, it became 10 ^1.0 TCID ₅₀ /50 μL (4.5 log ₁₀ reduction).

The results of the second experiment are shown in Figure 10. In the second experiment, when the chlorine dioxide solution of the present invention was sprayed, the chlorine dioxide gas concentration in the chamber averaged 0.1 ppmv (min; 0.1 ppmv, max; 0.2 ppmv). In the control where water was sprayed instead of the chlorine dioxide solution of the present invention, the virus titer 10 minutes after spraying was 10 ^5.5 TCID ₅₀ /50μL, but when the chlorine dioxide solution of the present invention was sprayed, it was 10 ^0.8 TCID ₅₀ /50μL (4.7 log ₁₀ reduction). Additionally, 15 minutes after spraying, the virus titer in the control was 10 ^4.3 TCID _50/50 μL, but when the chlorine dioxide solution of the present invention was sprayed, it became 10 ^1.7 TCID _50/ 50 μL (2.6 log ₁₀ reduction). At 30 minutes of spraying, the virus titer in the control was 10 ^3.9 TCID ₅₀ /50 μL, but when the chlorine dioxide solution of the present invention was sprayed, it became 10 ^0.5 TCID ₅₀ /50 μL (3.4 log ₁₀ reduction).

From the above, it was shown that the present invention is applicable not only to bacteria but also to viruses.

Claims (10)

A method of processing a medical waste container for closedly storing medical waste containing harmful microorganisms, comprising:
A process of applying a liquid containing chlorine dioxide gas and chlorite to a medical waste container in which the medical waste is stored in a closed manner,
The liquid contains chlorine dioxide gas at a concentration of 10 to 2000 ppm and chlorite at a concentration of 0.05% to 10% by weight, and the pH of the liquid is adjusted to range from 4.5 to 6.5,
The application of the liquid is by spraying the liquid into a medical waste container or installing a container containing the liquid into a medical waste container,
Chlorine dioxide gas is released slowly from the liquid in the medical waste container, and the chlorine dioxide gas concentration in the medical waste is maintained for a long time, thereby disinfecting harmful microorganisms attached to the medical waste in the medical waste container,
The method of claim 1, wherein the medical waste is disposed of after the treatment and is not reused. The method according to claim 1, wherein the harmful microorganism is an infectious microorganism. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the liquid agent contains 50 to 1000 ppm of chlorine dioxide gas. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the liquor comprises 0.1% to 5.0% by weight chlorite. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pH of the liquid is in the range of 5.5 to 6.0. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the treatment reduces the spread of the harmful microorganisms. delete delete delete delete