Environmental challenges and sustainable management in the Sterile Processing Department (SPD)

Abstract

Objective: To critically analyze sustainable management in the Central Sterile Supply Department within hospital settings, considering the relationship between environmental impact reduction and the maintenance of safety and quality in healthcare processes. Methods: This study adopted a reflexive theoretical review, built from the critical dialogue between scientific productions, technical regulations, and institutional documents relevant to the field. The analytical path was guided by the intentional selection of sources that enabled the construction of interpretative categories regarding sustainability in the hospital context, without the pretension of sample exhaustiveness, but with emphasis on argumentative density and epistemological reflection on sterilization practices. The analysis was conducted through emerging thematic axes, allowing the critical reorganization of available knowledge. Results: The integrated reflection revealed that sustainable management in the Central Sterile Supply Department is still under development, characterized by incremental advances and structural challenges. Practices such as resource optimization, adoption of less impactful technologies, and improved waste management were identified as key strategies for reducing environmental impacts without compromising process effectiveness. However, significant barriers were observed, including institutional limitations, resistance to change, and the lack of structured policies.