An infectious waste can be defined as waste suspected to contain pathogens e.g. laboratory cultures, waste from isolation wards, tissues (swabs), materials, or equipment that have been in contact with tubing, catheters, IGS toxins, live or attenuated vaccines, soiled plaster and other materials contaminated with blood, urine, sputum, faeces of infected patients.

Within the context of the global pandemic of COVID -19, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) recognizes the decontamination of surfaces using disinfectants. In combating the coronavirus not all disinfectants are employed rather those with antiviral activity such as chlorine and alcohol based.