1. (a)

   1. (1) Home health personnel, physicians, and dentists treating patients in the home often generate infectious medical waste during their visit or waste is generated as a result of their prescribed treatment and medication.
   2. (2) It is the responsibility of the healthcare provider to instruct the patient and family members in the proper disposal of any subsequently generated medical waste.

2. (b)

   1. (1) Particular attention should be given to infectious wastes from patients with highly infectious conditions and/or with multiple resistant organisms, to include but not limited to methicillin resistant Staphylococcus infections, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, etc.

   2. (2) Visiting healthcare providers:

      1. (A) Should disinfect such wastes when they are in the home; and
      2. (B) Shall properly instruct household members in the proper treatment and disposal of infectious waste items from all types of patient treatment during their absence.

3. (c)

   1. (1) Rigid leak-proof containers, marked as treated, should be used for the disposal of sharps which should be chemically disinfected using one (1) part freshly prepared solution of free available chlorine (hypochlorite bleach) concentration to no more than ten (10) parts water (1:10 dilution) for at least ten (10) minutes.
   2. (2) Drain solution off into the sink or commode before disposal as regular solid waste.
   3. (3) It is not permissible to put a red biohazard bag or container in a solid waste landfill.
   4. (4) Solid waste landfills are prohibited from accepting liquid and/or infectious waste as outlined in the Division of Environmental Quality’s Solid Waste Management Code, 8 CAR pt. 60.

Codification Notes: "HIV" means human immunodeficiency virus.