In most low-income regions and especially in Asian
countries the management of medical waste is a
severe problem; only a handful of centers can
process medical waste efficiently. Waste generated
by microbiology laboratories in the form of
specimen samples, culture plates and tubes all
carry a high potential risk of infection and need
to be managed effectively. Most of the biomedical
waste produced should be decontaminated,
discarded or incinerated [39]. Non-infectious materials
such as glassware are recyclable and can be
sterilized. Decontamination should be performed
by steam autoclaving. Contaminated sharp wastes,
such as hypodermic needles, disposable knives, and
syringes, should be discarded in a puncture-proof
bag [32].