How much do we throw away in the intensive care unit? An observational point prevalence study of Australian and New Zealand ICUs.

Anstey, MH; Trent, L; Bhonagiri, D; Hammond, NE; Knowles, S; McGain, F; George Institute for Global Health and the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Clinical Trials Group,; Steering Committee members,; Coordinating centre List of investigators,; Site List of investigators,

How much do we throw away in the intensive care unit? An observational point prevalence study of Australian and New Zealand ICUs.

Anstey, MH Trent, L Bhonagiri, D Hammond, NE Knowles, S McGain, F George Institute for Global Health and the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Clinical Trials Group, Steering Committee members, Coordinating centre List of investigators, Site List of investigators,

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Publisher:: Elsevier
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Crit Care Resusc, 2023, 25, (2), pp. 78-83
Issue Date:: 2023-06

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Anstey, MH
dc.contributor.author	Trent, L
dc.contributor.author	Bhonagiri, D
dc.contributor.author	Hammond, NE
dc.contributor.author	Knowles, S
dc.contributor.author	McGain, F
dc.contributor.author	George Institute for Global Health and the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Clinical Trials Group,
dc.contributor.author	Steering Committee members,
dc.contributor.author	Coordinating centre List of investigators,
dc.contributor.author	Site List of investigators,
dc.date.accessioned	2024-03-15T05:06:43Z
dc.date.available	2024-03-15T05:06:43Z
dc.date.issued	2023-06
dc.identifier.citation	Crit Care Resusc, 2023, 25, (2), pp. 78-83
dc.identifier.issn	1441-2772
dc.identifier.issn	2652-9335
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/176783
dc.description.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.
dc.format	Electronic-eCollection
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Elsevier
dc.relation.ispartof	Crit Care Resusc
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.ccrj.2023.05.004
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	1103 Clinical Sciences, 1110 Nursing
dc.subject.classification	3202 Clinical sciences
dc.subject.classification	4205 Nursing
dc.title	How much do we throw away in the intensive care unit? An observational point prevalence study of Australian and New Zealand ICUs.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	25
utslib.location.activity	Netherlands
utslib.for	1103 Clinical Sciences
utslib.for	1110 Nursing
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2024-03-15T05:06:42Z
pubs.issue	2
pubs.publication-status	Published online
pubs.volume	25
utslib.citation.issue	2

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.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/176783