In February 2020, the Chinese Minister of Health confirmed the acquisition of 16 Sterilwave treatment stations for the main hospitals in the Wuhan region. These ultra-compact, innovative systems with proven efficiency in terms of viral inactivation make it possible to treat biomedical waste that has potentially been contaminated by the coronavirus (2019-nCoV) directly on site, consequently eliminating all risk of contamination outside the hospital. Thanks to Sterilwave solutions, the dangerous waste generated by hospitals is no longer transported by truck to distant treatment sites, significantly limiting the risk of contagion.
To help combat the spread of the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the Wuhan region of China, Bertin Technologies (CNIM group) offered China its experience and expertise in treating biomedical waste directly in hospitals through the sale of 16 Sterilwave SW440 machines (treatment capacity: up to 80 kg/hour). These machines make it possible to grind down and sterilise all types of hospital waste that may potentially have been contaminated by the coronavirus using microwave treatment, thereby removing the need to transport this waste outside the hospital, which poses a significant risk of external contamination.
The Sterilwave in-situ process is very simple and fully automated: the waste is ground down and heated in the same container to over 100°C for twenty minutes. When the waste exits the machine, it is dry, inert, and completely unrecognisable, with a volume reduction of 85% and a weight reduction of 25%. After the Sterilwave process, all the treated waste can be managed as regular municipal waste without biological risk and hazard for public health.
The biological inactivation results obtained on bacteria (including sporulated forms) and viruses have been validated by the Ministries of Health and the Environment in both France and China. The Sterilwave process meets all international norms and standards known worldwide for the management of bio-hazardous waste. Studies have shown that the coronavirus can be quickly destroyed at temperatures above 60°C, meaning it can be efficiently eliminated by the Sterilwave machine.
According to a study published on 12 January in The New England Journal of Medicine, the contagiousness of the coronavirus 2019-nCoV is approximately 2.2 people per contaminated patient. The hospital waste generated by the contaminated patient is one of the main sources of the spread. The viruses/spores/germs can not only survive but also thrive in this waste over periods ranging from several days to several weeks. The Sterilwave solution allows hospitals to treat this waste directly on site with no risk of external contamination, helping hospitals fight against the spread of the disease.
