The present invention relates to a method for treating and disposing of materials contaminated with blood or blood products and devices and materials for use in the process.
Many diseases are transmitted between humans by contact of open wounds or sores with contaminated blood. Other diseases can be transmitted by insects, such as flies, fleas or mosquitoes, which feed on contaminated blood or materials which contain blood. These insects then contact the open wounds or sores on humans, bite or sting individuals or animals, or, as for example in the case of fleas on rodents, travel into living quarters of humans where the fleas can then transfer to humans, thus transmitting viruses, germs, bacteria, parasites or other disease vectors to the individual. Diseases known to be transmitted by contact with blood or which can be carried by insects are hepatitis, HIV, AIDS, malaria, herpes, human papilloma virus (HPV), and Jacobs Kreutzfelds disease. Many other diseases of unknown etiology are believed to be transmitted by insect bites or contact with infected blood.
Over the last several years considerable efforts have been taken to eliminate or significantly reduce the possibility of transmission of blood bourn diseases by casual contact in the hospital or medical facility environment. Additionally, strict testing and controls have been placed on blood and blood products which are transfused during medical procedures. However, no attempts have been made to eliminate the possibility of the transmission of blood bourn diseases or the contamination of ground water supplies which can be caused by the casual or negligent disposal of menstrual blood. On a monthly basis, millions of women dispose of blood soaked tampons or pads in garbage receptacles or flush them down toilets. These blood soaked materials then end up in land fills or sewer systems where insects and other vermin can contact these blood soaked products. Unfortunately, if the woman's menstrual blood contains germs, bacteria, viruses, or blood parasites, these microorganisms can survive the disposal conditions and can then be transmitted to other humans. This is of particular concern in the case of HIV, hepatitis A, B, or C and HPV which are known to be transmitted in blood and which are believed to survive normal disposal conditions. Additionally, many diseases endemic to the less developed third world but virtually unknown in the developed countries of the world can be readily introduced into those developed countries by a single menstruating woman entering the country from those regions. This is a problem currently unrecognized or unaddressed by the world's public health authorities.
Thus, there is a need for a simple, safe and effective method and system to readily destroy microorganisms carried in menstrual blood and to allow safe disposal of menstrual blood.