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How should you dispose of used stoma equipment in a hospital? How would Jean dispose of used stoma equipment at home?

ACTIVITY

In hospital, hand hygiene and use of gloves and apron are necessary (see Chapter

3) and the equipment should be disposed of in the infective waste bag unless local

policy advises otherwise. The DH (2006) advised that, in the community, stoma-care

waste can be disposed of in the black-bag waste stream. Accordingly, Stoma Care

(2007) advises that disposal at home does not require any special arrangements and

suggests that, after emptying, the appliance can be wrapped in newspaper, put in a

nappy sac and disposed of in normal household refuse. However, if when at home

Jean developed any type of gastrointestinal infection or the site became infected, her

bag must be disposed of as infectious waste – the community nurse should advise

her about this.