Alcohol solutions tend to evaporate quickly when applied to surfaces which then limits the contact time.
Asepsis means killing of all skin#
skin disinfection wipes often contain 70% isopropyl alcohol and 4% chlorhexidine gluconate. The wipes may also be combined with other antiseptic products, e.g. The most common product formulation on the market are alcohol impregnated wipes, in different sizes depending on their use. injection or insertion of a vascular catheter Skin antisepsis prior to a sterile or aseptic procedureĮ.g.Disinfecting small noncritical items e.g.It is commonly used in different ways in the healthcare setting: Today’s guidelines recommending the use of 60%–90% alcohol for antisepsis and disinfection are largely based on these early studies.Īlcohol is generally classified as a low-level disinfectant – primarily due to the fact that it has no or limited sporicidal activity. Early studies from 1895 tested different concentrations of alcohol (25% to 99%) to eliminate articles contaminated with bacteria.
The higher the percentage of alcohol does not necessary mean it is better at killing bacteria. (The term ‘rubbing alcohol’ is used in the USA for productsĬontaining 70% isopropyl alcohol.) The concentration of alcohol is usually expressed as a N-propanol, 1-propanol, or propan-1-ol.Isopropyl alcohol, isopropanol, 2-propanol, or propan-2-ol.There are different names for alcohol used in healthcare disinfection, but the three most common types are: Alcohol is also an important ingredient in waterless based hand hygiene products – ABHR – however this usage for alcohol is not discussed here. This article summarises parts of the above review to take a closer look at alcohol used as a healthcare product for surface disinfection. So it was refreshing to read an article by John M Boyce, a renowned infection prevention and control expert, who presented an overview of using alcohol products to disinfect healthcare surfaces ( Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology 2018 1-6.) However, alcohol as a disinfectant is extremely common in healthcare facilities and is commonly used alongside other cleaning and disinfectant agents. Bleach, (sodium hypochlorite), quaternary ammonium compounds and more recently hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid and UV technology feature largely in the research literature. She obtained her Masters in Infection Control and Prevention through Griffith University and is currently undertaking a PhD at the University of Sydney – again in the area of infection preventionĪlcohol is often the poor cousin when it comes to articles written about disinfectants used in healthcare. Ruth originally trained as a registered nurse in the UK but preventing infections has been her specialised field of work in NZ and Australia for over 20 years. Ruth provides advice and training to Reynard Health Supplies concerning the needs of infection prevention and control professionals and developments in the industry. Ruth Barratt is an Infection Prevention and Control Consultant and Health Quality Advisor RN, BSc, MAdvPrac (Hons), CICP-E.
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