April 30, 2025
2 min learn
Key takeaways:
- Combining urine antigen checks resulted in a discount of 77.74% in plastic waste and 91.43% in paper waste.
- The change to mixed checks additionally resulted in a 79.34% discount in CO2 emissions.
ORLANDO — Combining urine antigen checks for Streptococcus pneumoniae and Legionella pneumophilia might lead to considerably much less plastic and paper waste, in addition to fewer carbon dioxide emissions, researchers reported at SHEA Spring.
“Our analysis crew was impressed to quantify emissions related to frequent checks ordered at our establishment,” Rahee M. Nerurkar, MD, a founding member of the Environmental Advocacy Committee at Montefiore Einstein, advised Healio. “We all know that the well being care sector is liable for virtually 10% of U.S. emissions, and nearly all of emissions come from the provision chain related to the manufacturing and disposal of well being care objects. If we will quantify emissions, it’s step one to understanding learn how to scale back our carbon footprint.”
Information derived from Nori P, et al. Summary 391. Offered at: SHEA Spring; April 27-30, 2025; Orlando.
Nerurkar added that their establishment had not too long ago switched from two separate checks for S. pneumoniae and L. pneumophilia urine antigens to a single, mixed take a look at. This led the crew to measure emissions related to the waste created from the separate checks vs. projected waste from the mixed take a look at.
“Our hope is that by quantifying the emissions diverted by this lab workflow change, we would be capable to encourage an identical change at different establishments and likewise encourage adjustments to different generally ordered checks or medicines,” Nerurkar mentioned.
To measure these emissions, every take a look at package element was weighed and transformed to carbon dioxide (CO2) emission equivalents utilizing the U.S. Environmental Safety Company greenhouse fuel equivalencies calculators. Then, utilizing information from the earlier 12 months and making use of related future testing patterns, the researchers estimated the doable emissions discount primarily based on the mixed testing technique.
Between January 2023 and November 2024, 13,906 urine L. pneumophilia checks and 12,796 urine S. pneumoniae checks have been carried out. In line with the research, separate testing kits for these generated 218.2 kg of plastic waste and 749.1 kg of paper waste.
The projected plastic and paper waste from January 2025 to November 2026 utilizing the mixed checks was an estimated 48.5 kg and 64.2 kg, respectively, yielding a 77.74% discount in plastic waste and 91.43% in paper waste vs. the person checks.
Nerurkar defined that these numbers have been then transformed into CO2 equivalents utilizing Greenhealth’s Well being Care Emissions Affect Calculator. This confirmed that 4.34 CO2 equivalents have been projected to be saved through the use of these mixed checks, representing a 79.34% discount in emissions.
“[This is] equal to charging 340 smartphones or utilizing 11 gallons of gasoline to gasoline a automotive,” Nerurkar mentioned.
Primarily based on these findings, Nerurkar mentioned that hospitals ought to implement workflow adjustments that divert emissions, particularly for generally ordered checks.
“It’s useful to deal with a change that doesn’t have an effect on affected person care or clinician workflow, since these adjustments are tougher to implement,” Nerurkar mentioned. “Working with a extremely motivated, interdisciplinary crew made this undertaking extra achievable.”
For extra info:
Rahee M. Nerurkar, MD, might be contacted by way of Anshel Kenkare, MD, at akenkare@montefiore.org.
Sources/Disclosures
Collapse
Nori P, et al. Summary 391. Offered at: SHEA Spring; April 27-30, 2025; Orlando.
Disclosures:
Nerurkar reviews no related monetary disclosures.
