Aliphatic alcohols

General information

The lower aliphatic alcohols (ethanol, isopropanol, 2-propanol, N -propanol, and 1-propanol) are widely used for skin antisepsis. In appropriate concentrations, these alcohols are bactericidal to most of the common pathogenic bacteria, but some rare species survive and can grow, especially since these alcohols are inactive against dried spores.

Seven cases of gaseous edema were observed in the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) after intramuscular injections following rubbing of the skin with ethanol [ ]; this led to a national recommendation that alcohols should not be used to cleanse the skin before intramuscular injection, injection of vasoconstrictors, injections in patients with disturbed peripheral circulation, or before lumbar, paraneural, or intra-articular injection and puncture [ ].

Organs and systems