Terminal disinfection
(final disinfection)

Terminal disinfection has the objective of preparing complete rooms or areas for subsequent patients or residents for them to be treated or cared for without the risk of acquiring an infection. This disinfection measure is applied in rooms and areas where an infected or colonised patient/resident has been cared for or treated. Depending on the existing disease or type of pathogen all near-patient surfaces/objects or all accessible surfaces (e.g. also floors or walls) are to be disinfected.

The disinfection is recommended to be carried out with a surface disinfectant that is bactericidal, yeasticidal and virucidal against enveloped viruses. If necessary, other concentrations and disinfectants with a broader spectrum of activity as well as other exposure times than for Routine disinfection need to be observed.