Terminal cleaning

Terminal cleaning is the thorough cleaning of a room after use, used in healthcare environments to control the spread of infections.

Terminal cleaning
Non-flammable alcohol vapor in carbon dioxide systems being used as the final step in sanitizing a swing-out toilet in a hospital ER exam room

Justification

Nosocomial infections claim approximately 90,000 lives in the United States annually. When patients are hospitalized and identified as having methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or infections that can be spread to other patients, best practices isolate these patients in rooms that are subjected to terminal cleaning when the patient is discharged.^{[citation needed]}

For example, terminal cleaning reduces the spread of C. difficile infections.^[1]

Procedure

Terminal cleaning requires cleaning the entire room after use by the patient.^[2] Methods vary, but involve disinfection of all surfaces and discarding all disposable items and cleaning rags or towels as medical waste.^[2]

See also

• Nosocomial infection
• MRSA
• VRE
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa