Alcohols For Use As An Antimicrobial Agent

By Renee Morley

Alcohols are widely used in controlled environments throughout the world. In healthcare and pharmaceutical settings, alcohol refers to two water-soluble chemical compounds, ethyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol, that can be used as antimicrobial agents. Alcohols are suitable and effective for some applications, but not all. Care must be taken when determining use for alcohols in any controlled environment due to contact time and flammability considerations. Alcohols have many useful and practical properties, and are widely used for hand sanitization of gloves, sanitization of surfaces, and removal of disinfectant residues. Learn about the many useful and practical properties of alcohols along with important regulations.