Introduction

The central sterile services department (CSSD) performs sterilization of medical devices, equipment and consumables and select laundry items for subsequent use in aseptic procedures performed in the operating theatres, ICUs, general wards of the hospital. The operations of a central sterile services department consist of the reprocessing, that is cleaning, disinfecting and sterilizing of reusable medical equipment. The CSSD at AIIMS was set up in the 1960s to cater to 801 beds. Eventually, the Institute expanded such that there was a marked increase in not only the bed strength but also the Operation theatres and the ICU beds. Subsequently, it has taken the load of the expanded bed strength of the main hospital, along with that of the centers which have come up subsequently. Today, the CSSD caters to approximately 1900 beds.