Article: Disposal of epinephrine; shellfish and iodine allergies; fires caused by hair gel; patient jewelry; vaginal use of chlorhexidine gluconate.(CLINICAL ISSUES)

QUESTION: Recently, I heard that outdated vials of epinephrine and epinephrine pens require special disposal because epinephrine is a hazardous substance. If this is true, what should I do with outdated epinephrine-containing products in the OR?

ANSWER: Epinephrine is a regulated hazardous waste that must be disposed of according to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulations. (1) Although, these rules were created in the mid 1970s, health care facilities were not required to adhere to them until recently. Approximately four years ago, the EPA began inspecting hospitals and assessing fines for RCRA ...

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