Are needles sterilized for lethal injections?

Needles are one-use items, and they come already sterilized. Back when needles and syringes were re-used, yes, they were sterilized, because sometimes a sentence was commuted at the last minute (the governor finally makes up his mind and calls the warden, but the needle is already in the prisoner's arm). From what I understand, some neutral fluid is dripped into the prisoner first, before the flow of lethal drugs starts.

All hypodermics these days are single use - they come in sterile packs, so there is no longer any need to sterilise needles.

And why is the skin swabbed with alcohol?

You can't buy dirty needles.

I would say so .