{
  "abstract": "Background: Urine collection bags represent a substantial fraction of hazardous biomedical waste, typically requiring costly and energy-intensive disposal. Current handling methods pose occupational risks and environmental challenges due to potential pathogen dissemination. This study evaluates an automated closed-loop system (UBC-V4) designed for on-site disinfection and emptying of urine bags, aimed at enhancing safety and supporting the reclassification of treated waste as municipal waste.\n\nMethods: The UBC-V4 device (Medimed S.r.l.) was tested for its ability to integrate bag cutting, emptying, and disinfection within a standardized 60-second cycle. Three disinfectants were compared: Leucoran (ethanol-based), Neomedil (ethanol/benzalkonium chloride), and GioCOL Ammonium (isopropyl alcohol/benzalkonium chloride). Escherichia coli (ATCC 11229) was used as a model pathogen at bacterial loads ranging from 1.2 x 104 to 2.8 x 1010 CFU/mL. System sterility and residual contamination of the internal basket were also monitored. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Dunnett’s post-hoc test (p < 0.05).\n\nResults: GioCOL Ammonium achieved the highest efficiency, resulting in complete bacterial eradication at inoculum levels up to 6 x 106 CFU/mL. Even at the maximum load (2.8 x 1010 CFU/mL), it produced a significant 2.8 x 103-fold reduction. In contrast, Leucoran and Neomedil showed lower efficacy (779.6-fold and 500-fold reductions, respectively). GioCOL Ammonium also effectively minimized residual contamination in the device, reducing cross-contamination risks between cycles.\n\nConclusions: The automated UBC-V4 system, combined with specific quaternary ammonium formulations, provides an effective and scalable solution for on-site liquid waste treatment. By reducing the volume of hazardous waste and improving operator safety through a closed process, this technology supports more sustainable healthcare waste management and circular economy principles.\n\nKey messages: • On-site disinfection allows reclassifying urine bags as municipal waste, drastically cutting hospital disposal costs while significantly reducing the environmental footprint of medical waste.\n\n• The UBC-V4 automated closed-loop system protects healthcare workers by eliminating direct contact with biohazardous fluids and preventing pathogen dissemination during waste disposal.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": "abstract",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 10,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "M Tomeo"
    },
    {
      "name": "G Moccia"
    },
    {
      "name": "F Della Rocca"
    },
    {
      "name": "A Mea"
    },
    {
      "name": "E Santoro"
    },
    {
      "name": "O Motta"
    },
    {
      "name": "G Boccia"
    },
    {
      "name": "M Capunzo"
    },
    {
      "name": "G Franci"
    },
    {
      "name": "F De Caro"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cqnng3nc03s6g.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.1266",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13697757/",
  "id": "cqnng3nc03s6g",
  "issns": [
    "1101-1262",
    "1464-360X"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.1266",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "6. Poster Displays"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "AcademicSubjects/MED00860"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "AcademicSubjects/SOC01210"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "AcademicSubjects/SOC02610"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "DF. Environment and health"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2739|Healthcare and Environmental Waste Management"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223657619",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13697757/pdf/?tool=EBI",
  "pmcid": "PMC13697757",
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-01",
  "publisher": "Oxford University Press",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cqnng3nc03s6g.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:45Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13697757",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.1266"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:21:45Z",
      "native_id": "PMC:PMC13697757",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13697757"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2739|Healthcare and Environmental Waste Management",
      "subfield": "epidemiology-public-health"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Automated on-site disinfection of urine collection bags: a sustainable waste management",
  "title_text": "Automated on-site disinfection of urine collection bags: a sustainable waste management",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:34:44Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cqnng3nc03s6g",
  "venue": "The European Journal of Public Health",
  "versions": []
}