Dish of the Day

Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) Faculty of Medicine Hospital has fully modernized its Central Sterilization Unit (CSU), a cornerstone of surgical services, and put it into operation as of 2026. With its capacity doubled, the unit also delivers daily savings of 25,000 litres through an installed water recovery system.

Reconfigured to respond to increased operating theatre capacity and current medical requirements, the unit stands out with equipment that complies with international standards.

Old unit transformed into a new facility with 1,000 square metres of enclosed space

As part of the renovation works, the former unit, which began operating in 2011 within a 450-square-metre area, has been converted into a new facility with 1,000 square metres of enclosed space. In addition to the hospital’s 28 active operating theatres, the sterilization needs of all wards and outpatient clinics are now met from a single centre under high safety standards.

Significant increase in equipment capacity and processing volume

With the new investment, there has been a significant increase in equipment capacity and processing volume. The number of steam sterilizers has been raised from 4 to 7, and washer-disinfector units from 4 to 8. The number of hydrogen peroxide sterilizers used for sensitive materials has been increased to 2, while the ethylene oxide system has been preserved to maintain technological diversity. The unit prepares and tracks an average of 1,000 barcoded surgical sets and packs daily.

The opening programme was attended by OMU Rector Prof. Dr. Fatma Aydın, Faculty of Medicine Dean Prof. Dr. Murat Danacı, Chief Physician Prof. Dr. Ünsal Özgen, as well as academic and administrative staff.

“We save 25,000 litres of water daily thanks to the water recovery system”

In her speech at the opening programme, Rector Prof. Dr. Fatma Aydın stated: “Another priority during this modernization process was to protect our resources. Thanks to the Recovered Reverse Osmosis Water System we have introduced in our unit, we save 25,000 litres of water daily. With this technology, we both maximize the safety of our patients and staff and fulfil our responsibility to nature. With our renewed infrastructure, we will provide stronger and more sustainable support to regional health.”

“Sterilization units are critical for patient, staff, and system safety”

Rector Aydın continued her remarks: “To speak of quality in healthcare, safety and continuity must first be ensured. Sterilization units are critical for patient, staff, and system safety. This unit plays a vital role in preventing infections and complications, shortening hospital stays, and ensuring a safe surgical environment. Protecting our staff against biological risks and enabling rapid intervention through barcode and tracking systems further strengthens system safety. Our unit, opened in 2011, was efficient under the conditions of that time; however, it needed renewal in line with increasing capacity and technological developments. With this modernization, both capacity and technical infrastructure have been significantly strengthened.”

“We have established a strong infrastructure to meet our increasing workload”

Central Sterilization Unit Supervisor Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fatih Temoçin said in his speech: “As a faculty and hospital, we needed to expand our sterilization unit. In line with the increasing number of operating theatres and intensive care beds, the unit had to be expanded and equipped with up-to-date technology to ensure higher-quality medical processes. We have grown from an area of approximately 400 square metres to 1,000 square metres. We installed state-of-the-art equipment and now have a unit fully compliant with all quality standards. In this way, we have established a strong infrastructure capable of meeting our increasing workload.”

With the completed renovation, OMU Faculty of Medicine Hospital aims to further enhance patient and staff safety in the healthcare services it provides to Samsun and the surrounding region, while ensuring sustainable quality in surgical processes.