Questions and Answers
What is the optimal concentration of ethanol for antiseptic activity?
Which of the following disinfectants is specifically mentioned as not effective against bacterial spores?
What type of agents are detergents classified as?
Which compound is noted for its use in hand disinfection prior to surgery?
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What was the first disinfectant used in the operating room?
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What is the primary mechanism by which chlorine acts as a disinfectant?
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Which of the following statements about iodine is incorrect?
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What is the use of iodophors in medical practice?
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Which of the following is a common antiseptic form of iodine?
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What should be done after using tincture of iodine on the skin?
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Study Notes
Ethanol
- Ethanol is utilized to clean skin before immunization and venipuncture.
- It disrupts lipid structures in membranes and denatures proteins.
- Optimal efficacy is achieved with 70% ethanol; 100% ethanol is less effective.
- Often employed as an antiseptic, especially prior to venipuncture.
- Not as effective as iodine compounds for blood cultures and intravenous catheter placements.
- Ethanol does not kill bacterial spores, making it unsuitable for sterilization.
Detergents
- Composed of a hydrophobic lipid-soluble portion and a polar hydrophilic group.
- Disrupt cellular membranes by interacting with lipids and surrounding water.
- Quaternary ammonium compounds, like benzalkonium chloride, are common cationic detergents used for skin antisepsis.
- Benzalkonium chloride is found in Lysol, a popular disinfectant for surfaces.
Phenols
- Phenol was historically the first disinfectant used in operating rooms but is rarely utilized now due to causticity.
- Chlorhexidine, a chlorinated phenol, is widely used for surgical hand disinfectants and wound cleaning.
- Hexachlorophene, a biphenol, was used in germicidal soaps but is restricted due to neurotoxicity concerns.
- Phenols damage membranes and denature proteins.
Chlorine
- Utilized as a disinfectant for water purification and swimming pool treatment.
- The active component in bleach (hypochlorite, Clorox) for home and hospital disinfection.
- Acts as a potent oxidizing agent, killing microbes by cross-linking essential sulfhydryl groups in enzymes.
Iodine
- Iodine is the most effective skin antiseptic in medical practice, crucial for blood cultures and IV catheter insertion to prevent contamination.
- Functions as an oxidant that inactivates sulfhydryl-containing enzymes and binds to tyrosine residues in proteins.
- Comes in two forms:
- Tincture of iodine (2% solution in ethanol) prepares the skin but can irritate, necessitating removal with alcohol.
- Iodophors, which are iodine-detergent complexes, are less irritating and used for skin preparation before surgeries.
- Povidone-iodine is a widely used iodophor in antiseptic applications.
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Description
This quiz explores the role of ethanol as an antiseptic, specifically its effectiveness at different concentrations and its mechanism of action on skin membranes. It also compares ethanol's efficacy with iodine-containing compounds for cleaning prior to medical procedures. Test your knowledge about when and how to use alcohol for skin disinfection.
