CENTRAL STERILE SUPPLY DEPARTMENT (CSSD)
The Sterile Processing Department (Central Supply or Sterile Supply as it is also known), comprises that service within the hospital in which medical/surgical supplies and equipment, both sterile and, are cleaned, prepared, processed, stored, and issued for patient care. Until the 1940s, medical/surgical supplies were, for the most part, processed and maintained in the departments and patient care areas in which they were to be used. Under this system, there was considerable duplication of effort and equipment, and it was difficult to maintain consistently high standards for sterilization technique and product quality throughout the healthcare facility
Functions of CSSD
- Sterile processing departments are typically divided into four major areas to accomplish the functions of decontamination, assembly and sterile processing, sterile storage, and distribution
- In the decontamination area, reusable equipment, instruments, and supplies are cleaned and decontaminated by means of manual or mechanical cleaning processes and chemical disinfection
- Clean items are received in the assembly and packaging area from the decontamination area and are then assembled and prepared for issue, storage, or further processing (like sterilization)
- After assembly or sterilization, items are transferred to the sterile storage area until it’s time for them to be issued
- Several major functions are carried out in the distribution area: case cart preparation and delivery; exchange cart inventory; replenishment and delivery; telephone-order and requisition-order filling; and sometimes, patient care equipment delivery
CSSD Work Flow in Hospital
Unsterile things — collection area — packaging area — process area — sterile area — collection area
