Officially ordered decontaminations in accordance with Art. 18, Para. 1 of IfSG (Federal Law on the Prevention of Infectious Diseases in Humans) have the objective of preventing and stemming epidemic outbreaks with communicable, notifiable diseases. Depending on the existing disease or type of pathogen at least all near-patient surfaces/objects or all accessible surfaces (floors, walls) are to be disinfected. Additionally, further surfaces outside the patient room that need to be considered contaminated are to be disinfected as well.
Only preparations and procedures listed by the RKI may be used for disinfection. Use concentrations and exposure times are usually considerably higher and longer, respectively than for routine and targeted disinfection.
