International guidelines and regulations pertaining to CSSD

Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

It is a US Federal Government Agency within the department of Health and Human Services. It works to promote Health by preventing and Controlling Disease, Injury and Disability. Guidelines for CSSD are available and can be downloaded for free. Kindly type ‘Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities’ in the search bar.  

  Joint Commission International (JCI) and NABH

They are not-for-profit organizations that develop standards for healthcare facilities. They evaluate healthcare organizations by conducting on-site surveys. NABH primarily serves Indian healthcare institutions, offering localized standards. JCI, being international, provides globally recognized benchmarks, influencing healthcare systems worldwide.

World Health Organization (WHO)

WHO is the United Nations agency that connects nations, partners and people to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable. Free to download guidelines are available on the internet as ‘Decontamination and reprocessing of medical devices for health-care facilities’

International Standards Organization (ISO)  

It is non-governmental organization representing 156 countries. Its standards are voluntary and it has no legal enforcement authority. Their guidelines need to be purchased.

Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI)

AAMI is a voluntary consensus organization consisting of committees which develop new or revise existing recommended practices and standards for the use, care and processing of devices by steam sterilization. It is called ‘ANSI/AAMI ST79, Comprehensive guide to steam sterilization and sterility assurance in health care facilities’. It is not free to download.