Dr. Pankaj Talwar
Dr. Pankaj Talwar

“OT CSSD” stands for “Operating Theatre Central Sterile Services Department.” It is an essential facility in hospitals and healthcare settings that plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety and sterility of surgical instruments and equipment.

The OT CSSD is responsible for the cleaning, disinfection, sterilisation, and storage of surgical instruments and medical devices. After each surgery, the used instruments are collected, sorted, and transported to the CSSD for thorough cleaning and decontamination. This process involves various techniques, including manual cleaning, mechanical washing, and ultrasonic cleaning.

Once the instruments are cleaned, they undergo a sterilisation process to eliminate any remaining microorganisms. This can be achieved through methods such as steam sterilisation, ethylene oxide gas sterilisation, or low-temperature hydrogen peroxide gas plasma sterilisation, depending on the type of instruments and materials.

The sterile instruments are then carefully packaged and stored in a way that maintains their sterility until they are needed for the next surgical procedure. Maintaining strict standards of cleanliness and sterilisation in the OT CSSD is vital to prevent surgical site infections and ensure the safety of patients undergoing surgical interventions.

The staff working in the OT CSSD are highly trained and follow strict protocols to ensure that all processes are carried out correctly. Their efforts contribute significantly to the overall success and safety of surgical procedures in the hospital setting.