Preventable Surgical Site Infections and the Critical Role of Sterile Processing Professionals in U.S. Healthcare Systems

Abstract

Abstract
Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a critical patient safety, clinical outcome, and cost burden in the United States, with many cases deemed preventable. Instrument reprocessing and management play a pivotal role in this. This literature review delves into the etiology and impact of SSIs attributed to sterile processing failures. Central Sterile Processing Departments (CSPDs) uphold an intricate, high-stakes workflow, and sterile processing (SP) professionals are an essential, but undervalued and under-resourced, node of the healthcare safety net. We discuss the top challenges facing the SP profession today, including workforce shortages, training deficiencies, ergonomic hazards, and systemic barriers to communication. The article closes with a set of evidence-based, implementation-ready recommendations for healthcare systems to begin the work of raising the stature of sterile processing through standardized education, technological innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and institutional investment to prevent avoidable harm and strengthen the entire surgical safety ecosystem.