Central Sterile Supply Department

CSSD is the abbreviation of the Central Sterile Supply Department. The objective of establishing a Central Sterile Supply Department is to make reliably sterilized articles available at the required time and place for any agreed purpose in the Hospital as economically as possible, having regard to the need to conserve the time of users [especially Doctors And Nurses].

The Sterile Supply Department within a hospital receives stores,sterilizes and distributes to all departments including the wards, outpatient department [OPD] and other special units such as operating theatre [OT]. Major responsibilities of CSSD include processing and sterilization of syringes, rubber goods [catheters, tubing], surgical instruments, treatment trays and sets, dressings etc. it is also responsible for economic and effective utilization of equipment resources of the Hospital under controlled supervision.

The main objectives of the Central Sterile Supply Department are:

• To provide sterilized material from a central department where sterilizing practice is conducted under conditions, which are controlled, thereby contributing to a reduction in the incidence of hospital infection.
• To take some of the work of the Nursing staff so that they can devote more time to their patients.
• To avoid duplication of costly equipment’s, which may be infrequently used.
• To maintain record of effectiveness of cleaning, disinfection and sterilization process.
• To monitor and enforce controls necessary to prevent cross infection according to infection control policy.
• To maintain an inventory of supplies and equipment.
• To stay updated regarding developments in the field in the interest of efficiency, economy, accuracy and provision of better patient care. To provide a safe environment for the patients and staff

The CSSD also aims at assuming total responsibility for processing hospital items thereby assuring that all of them receive the same degree of cleaning and sterilization. It also contributes to the educational program within the hospital relating to infection control and develops a cost-effective program by cost analysis of personnel, supplies and equipment

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE:-

Central Sterile Supply Department should be under technical supervision of a responsible officer who is concerned with the day management of the unit. The Central Sterile Supply Department manager will liaise with the infection control team, OT manager and clinical departments. The CSSD manager is administratively responsible to the head of the health care facility.

The functional flow of activities in CSSD may be generally specified as follows.

RINSING: -Rinsing of articles after use should not be permitted in patient care areas unless carried out by a trained member of the staff.

CLEANING: – All reusable medical devices should be thoroughly cleaned prior to disinfection or sterilization.

DRYING: – all articles should be dried appropriately

INSPECTION AND ASSEMBLY: – Each item should be inspected for functionality, defects, breakage and then appropriately assembled.

PACKAGING: – Articles should preferably be packed in porous material.

LABELLING: – Each pack should be marked with nomenclature of the article, contents of the pack, initials of the person who packed it, date and initials of the person who carried out the sterilization.

STERILIZATION: – The operation of the sterilizer should be entrusted to a responsible and fully trained person. It should be kept in a state of good maintenance and repair.

STORAGE: - Should be properly managed separately for sterile and non-sterile stores. For sterile goods, clean room conditions should be followed.

DISTRIBUTION: -Refers to clean and dirty articles exchange system. A program should be established for the collection of used items from patient care areas and distribution of sterilized goods.

The functional flow of activities in CSSD may be generally specified as follows :

Infection control nursing is a novel speciality in our country which is gaining popularity. The infection control nurse with other members of the team monitors the infection rates throughout the hospital and is responsible  for making sure the infection control practises mandated are followed. Every hospital with its number of inpatients,huge number of procedures and the complexity of the disease conditions is an ideal place to develop your potential in this field.