Alcohol

Alcohol is not a medical treatment, but is frequently used in health-care settings to disinfectant surfaces in order to prevent the transmission of common viruses or bacteria. |title= |title==== Ethyl alcohol === |title=Ethyl alcohol, also known as ethanol, can destroy any virus enveloped in fat, when used in the correct concentrations, including: |title=* the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes COVID-19 |title=* the SARS-CoV virus that causes SARS |title=* the different flu viruses |title=*Human herpes viruses including the Epstein-Barr virus |title=and some non-enveloped viruses, including: |title=* adenoviruses |title=* enteroviruses |title=* rhinoviruses |title=* rotaviruses |title= |title=Ethyl alcohol is not effective against the hepatitis A virus or polioviruses. |title= |title=Ethyl alcohol should be used at 60-80% concentrations. |title= |title==== Isopropyl alcohol === |title=Isopropyl alcohol, also known as isopropyl, can destroy any virus enveloped in fat, including the coronaviruses that cause COVID-19, SARS when used in the correct concentration, but unlike ethyl alcohol it cannot inactivate non-enveloped viruses. |title= |title=Isopropyl is also effective against a variety of bacteria, including: |title=*Escherichia coli (e-coli) |title=*Staphylococcus |title=*Streptococcus |title= |title====Methanol=== |title=Methanol is not used in healthcare settings due to its low effectiveness against bacteria. |title= |title===Limitations of alcohol disinfectants== |title=Surfaces must be cleaned before disinfecting with alcohol, which will remove the protein-rich materials that alcohol cannot penetrate. |title= |title=Alcohols are not recommended for sterilizing medical and surgical materials principally because they penetrate protein-rich materials, and they cannot inactivate the spores caused by some forms of bacteria. |title= |title===Alcohol-based hand sanitizer== |title=Alcohol-based hand sanitizers (ABHS) are effective against many different types of viruses and bacteria; a 60% strength concentration is recommended for the virus causing the 2019-2020 coronavirus pandemic. However, washing hands carefully soap and running water is more effective against coronaviruses, including the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. |title= |title=Alcohol-based hand sanitizers have limited effectiveness when incorrect technique is used, not enough sanitizer is used, and when they are not used consistently. |title= |title===Drinking alcohol== |title=Drinking alcohol does not provide protection against coronaviruses, and drinking alcohol frequently or excessively can be extremely dangerous. |title= |title===ME/CFS== |title=A number of different alcohol-based disinfectants are effective against common viruses and bacteria which have been reported to trigger ME/CFS. |title= |title=Alcohol intolerance is also found in a significant proportion of ME/CFS patients. Some ME/CFS patients also develop mast cell activation syndrome, which involves an intolerance to alcohol and many other substances. |title= |title===See also== |title=*Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 |title=*COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 19) |title=*Alcohol intolerance |title=*Mast cell activation syndrome |title= |title===Learn more== |title=*Disinfection methods: Alcohol - CDC |title=*Coronavirus (COVID-19): Prevent getting sick - CDC |title=*Products with Emerging Viral Pathogens AND Human Coronavirus claims for use against SARS-CoV-2 - EPA |title= |title===References== |title= |title= |title= |title= |title= |title=