Recommendations on spray/wipe disinfection

Small and difficult-to-access surfaces are often underestimated as source of contamination and infection. Here, wipe disinfection is ideally complemented by a spray/wipe disinfection and spray disinfection, respectively^{1, 2, 3} with an alcohol-based rapid disinfectant.

To preclude any harm to health and, at the same time, ensure complete surface disinfection, the following points need to be considered:

• apply product directly to a dry cloth or spray surfaces from a short distance. This largely excludes the risk of inhaling droplets or aerosols during spraying.
• if possible, wipe surfaces or wipe them over after spraying, to ensure complete wetting.
• only spray disinfect surfaces, when wipe disinfection is not possible.
• alternatively, use an alcohol-based disinfection foam, as it does not develop droplets or aerosols.
• for surfaces coming into contact with products, e.g. in food processing areas, always use alcohol-based preparations that contain no additives and dry without leaving residue.

Information on wipe disinfection in the glossary.

Sources:
¹ Disinfectant Commission in the Association for Applied Hygiene (Verbund für Angewandte Hygiene e.V. Desinfektionsmittel-Kommission). Questions and answers concerning antisepsis and chemical disinfection. www.vah-online.de (German only).
² German Trade Association regulation: “Disinfection in health care” (BGR 206). www.bgw-online.de (German only).
³ Technical rules for hazardous substances (TRGS) 525: “Handling hazardous substances in facilities of human health care”. www.baua.de (German only).