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Alcohol

From MEpedia, a crowd-sourced encyclopedia of ME and CFS science and history

Alcohol is a class of organic, chemical compounds defined by the presence of a hydroxyl group attached to a carbon. 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.[1]

Ethyl alcohol

Ethyl alcohol, also known as ethanol, is the active ingredient in alcoholic beverages. Ethanol is a central nervous system depressant and causes inebriation and intoxication when consumed. Ethanol is also used as a disinfectant against viruses and bacteria, with the most effective concentrations between 60-90% (volume/volume).[2] The antimicrobial mechanism is based on protein denaturation in viruses and bacteria, leading to their inactivation. Ethanol has broad antibacterial effects that acts immediately, with activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Enteroccocus faecium, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, among others.[3] Ethanol is also known to be effective against enveloped viruses, including[2][4]:

Ethanol at higher concentrations is also effective against some non-enveloped viruses[5][2], including:

One literature review found several viruses that are resistant to ethanol, even at high concentrations, which are polyomavirus, and coxsackievirus B1 and B5[6]. Other viruses were found to be deactivated only at >95% ethanol, including poliovirus, echovirus, coxsackievirus B3. 80% ethanol is considered to be insufficient to protect against polyomavirus, hepatitis A virus, foot-and-mouth disease virus.

Isopropyl alcohol

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

Methanol is not used in healthcare settings due to its low effectiveness against bacteria.[1]

Limitations of alcohol disinfectants

Surfaces must be cleaned before disinfecting with alcohol, which will remove the protein-rich materials that alcohol cannot penetrate.[7][2]

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.[2]

Alcohol-based hand sanitizer

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.[7] However, washing hands carefully soap and running water is more effective against coronaviruses, including the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.[7]

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers have limited effectiveness when incorrect technique is used, not enough sanitizer is used, and when they are not used consistently.[8]

Drinking alcohol

Drinking alcohol does not provide protection against coronaviruses, and drinking alcohol frequently or excessively can be extremely dangerous.[9]

ME/CFS

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

Learn more

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Chemical Disinfectants | Disinfection & Sterilization Guidelines | Guidelines Library | Infection Control". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. April 4, 2019. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Chemical Disinfectants | Disinfection & Sterilization Guidelines | Guidelines Library | Infection Control". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. April 4, 2019. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  3. ↑ Kampf G, Kramer A.2004.Epidemiologic Background of Hand Hygiene and Evaluation of the Most Important Agents for Scrubs and Rubs. Clin Microbiol Rev 17:.https://doi.org/10.1128/cmr.17.4.863-893.2004
  4. ↑ Wanguyun, Aken Puti; Oishi, Wakana; Sano, Daisuke (December 5, 2023). "Sensitivity Evaluation of Enveloped and Non-enveloped Viruses to Ethanol Using Machine Learning: A Systematic Review". Food and Environmental Virology. 16 (1): 1–13. doi:10.1007/s12560-023-09571-2. ISSN 1867-0334. PMC 10963467.
  5. ↑ Kampf G, Kramer A.2004.Epidemiologic Background of Hand Hygiene and Evaluation of the Most Important Agents for Scrubs and Rubs. Clin Microbiol Rev 17:.https://doi.org/10.1128/cmr.17.4.863-893.2004
  6. ↑ Kampf, G. (2018-04). "Efficacy of ethanol against viruses in hand disinfection". Journal of Hospital Infection. 98 (4): 331–338. doi:10.1016/j.jhin.2017.08.025. ISSN 0195-6701. PMC 7132458. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 CDC (November 29, 2021). "COVID-19 and Your Health". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  8. ↑ Gold, Nina A.; Mirza, Taaha M.; Avva, Usha (2021). Alcohol Sanitizer. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. PMID 30020626.
  9. ↑ World Health Organization. "COVID-19 Mythbusters". World Health Organization. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
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