Value of whole-process quality control management in central sterile supply department nursing practice and nosocomial infection prevention

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the application value of whole-process quality control(WPQC) management in central sterile supply department(CSSD) nursing management and nosocomial infection prevention.

Methodology: This was a retrospective study. A total of 300 medical instrument packs (including luminal devices) processed by the Sterilization Supply Center of Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University between January and June, 2025 were selected and randomly assigned, using a random number table, into a control group (n= 150) and an observation group (n = 150). The control group received standard CSSD nursing management, while the observation group was managed using the WPQC model. Sterilization qualification rates, error rates, time consumption at each processing stage, nurse compliance with operational standards, and the incidence of related nosocomial infections were compared between the two groups.

Results: Compared with the control group, the observation group demonstrated significantly higher qualification rates for recovery, cleaning, disinfection, sterilization, packaging, and distribution(all P< 0.05). The overall error rate was significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group(P< 0.05). The observation group also had shorter processing times for cleaning, packaging, and sterilization, with nurses showing better compliance with operational standards (P< 0.05, respectively). Furthermore, the overall incidence of related nosocomial infections was significantly reduced in the observation group(P< 0.05).

Conclusion: The implementation of WPQC management in CSSD nursing management may substantially improve qualification rates across all stages of medical instrument disinfection and sterilization, reduce error and infection rates, shorten processing time, and enhance nurses’ adherence to operational standards.