Alcohol: Difference between revisions
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===<span id="isopropyl">Isopropyl alcohol</span>=== | ===<span id="isopropyl">Isopropyl alcohol</span>=== | ||
Isopropyl alcohol can destroy any virus enveloped in fat, including the coronaviruses that cause [[Coronavirus disease 19|COVID-19]], [[Severe acute respiratory syndrome|SARS]] when used in the correct concentration, but unlike ethyl alcohol it cannot inactivate non-enveloped viruses.<ref name="CDC-disinfection" /> | Isopropyl alcohol, also known as ''isopropyl'', can destroy any virus enveloped in fat, including the coronaviruses that cause [[Coronavirus disease 19|COVID-19]], [[Severe acute respiratory syndrome|SARS]] when used in the correct concentration, but unlike ethyl alcohol it cannot inactivate non-enveloped viruses.<ref name="CDC-disinfection" /> | ||
Isopropyl is also effective against a variety of bacteria, including: | |||
*[[Escherichia coli]] (e-coli) | |||
*[[Staphylococcus]] | |||
*[[Streptococcus]]<ref name="CDC-disinfection" /> | |||
===Methanol=== | ===Methanol=== | ||
Revision as of 23:16, April 11, 2020
 | This article is a stub. |
Alcohol is not a medical treatment, but is frequently used in healthcare settings to disinfectant surfaces in order to prevent the transmission of common viruses or bacteria.[1]
Ethyl alcohol[edit | edit source]
Ethyl alcohol, also known as ethanol, can destroy any virus enveloped in fat, when used in the correct concentrations, including:
- the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes COVID-19
- the SARS-CoV virus that causes SARS
- the different flu viruses
- Human herpes viruses including the Epstein-Barr virus[2]
and some non-enveloped viruses, including:
- adenovirus
- enteroviruses
- rhinoviruses
- rotaviruses[2]
Ethyl alcohol is not effective against the hepatitis A virus or polioviruses.[2]
Ethyl alcohol should be used at 60-80% concentrations.[2]
Isopropyl alcohol[edit | edit source]
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.[1]
Isopropyl is also effective against a variety of bacteria, including:
Methanol[edit | edit source]
Methanol is not used in healthcare settings due to its low effectiveness against bacteria.[1]
Alcohol-based hand sanitizer[edit | edit source]
Alcohol-based hand rubs are effective against many different types of viruses and bacteria. However, washing hands carefully soap and running water is more effective against coronaviruses, including the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.[citation needed]
ME/CFS[edit | edit source]
A number of different alcohol-based disinfectants are effective against common viruses and bacteria which have been reported to trigger ME/CFS.[citation needed]
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.
See also[edit | edit source]
- Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
- Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19)
- Alcohol intolerance
- Mast cell activation syndrome
