Coronavirus versus 70% Alcohol: Comments and Some Fundamental Definitions

Augusto Gonzaga Oliveira Freitas; Caroline Raquel Bender; Giancarlo Belmonte

doi:10.1590/s2175-979020222e20332

Authors

Augusto Gonzaga Oliveira Freitas Federal University of Pampa (UNIPAMPA), Itaqui, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1607-1861
Caroline Raquel Bender Federal University of Pampa (UNIPAMPA), Itaqui, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Giancarlo Belmonte Federal Institute of Education, Science, and Technology Farroupilha (IFFar), Alegrete, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/s2175-979020222e20332

Keywords:

SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, 70% ethanol

Abstract

The new coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) is a global problem that is having severe impacts on health systems worldwide. One particular characteristic of this virus is its high transmission rate, which has led to a high demand for personal care materials such as masks, gloves, and alcohol for asepsis. Seventy percent is the ideal concentration for the ethanol used in hand sanitizers; however, this concentration can be expressed in different ways, and, consequently, the different solutions will have different antiseptic activity. In this manuscript we comment on some characteristics of alcohol-based preparations and the different ways of expressing the concentrations.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Andrade D, Beraldo CC, Watanabe E, Oliveira BA, Ito IY. Atividade antimicrobiana in vitro do álcool gel a 70% frente às bactérias hospitalares e da comunidade. Medicina (Ribeirão Preto. Online). 2007;40(2):250-254.

Boyce JM, Pittet D. Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Health-Care Settings: Recommendations of the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee and the HICPAC/ SHEA/APIC/IDSA Hand Hygiene Task Force. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2002;23(S12):S3-S40.

Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária. Formulário Nacional da Farmacopéia Brasileira, 2nd ed. Brasília: Anvisa; 2012. 224 p.

Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. O que é o Coronavirus? (COVID-19). [citad 2020 Mar 16]. Available from: Available from: https://www.saude.gov.br/o-ministro/928-saude-de-a-a-z/coronavirus

» https://www.saude.gov.br/o-ministro/928-saude-de-a-a-z/coronavirus

CIA. Central Intelligence Agency. [ citad 2020 Mar 16]. Available from: Available from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/it.html

» https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/it.html

Conselho Federal de Química. Nota Oficial - Propriedades do álcool em gel. [citad 2020 Mar 15]. Available from: Available from: cfq.org.br/noticia/nota-oficial-propriedades-do-alcool-gel

» cfq.org.br/noticia/nota-oficial-propriedades-do-alcool-gel

Conselho Federal de Química. Nota Oficial - Medidas de prevenção ao contágio pelo coronavirus. [ citad 2020 Mar 15]. Available from: Available from: cfq.org.br/noticia/nota-oficial-medidas-de-prevencao-ao-contagio-pelo-coronavirus

» cfq.org.br/noticia/nota-oficial-medidas-de-prevencao-ao-contagio-pelo-coronavirus

Harrington C, Walker H. The germicidal action of alcohol. Boston Med Surg J. 1903;148:548-552.

Kampf G. Efficacy of ethanol against viruses in hand disinfection. J Hosp Infect. 2018;98(4):331-338.

Kampf G, Todt D, Pfaender S, Steinmann E. Persistence of coronaviruses on inanimate surfaces and their inactivation with biocidal agents. JHosp Infect. 2020;104(3):246-251.

Price PB. New studies in surgical bacteriology and surgical technic: with special reference to disinfection of the skin. JAMA. 1938;111(22):1993-1996.

Price PB. Ethyl alcohol as a germicide. Arch Surg. 1939;38(3):528-542.

Salvage R, Hull CM, Kelly DE, Kelly SL. Use of 70% alcohol for the routine removal of microbial hard surface bioburden in life science cleanrooms. Future Microbiol. 2014;9(10):1123-1130.

Venturelli AC, Torres FC, Almeida-Pedrin RR, Almeida RR, Almeida MR, Ferreira FPC. Avaliação microbiológica da contaminação residual em diferentes tipos de alicates ortodônticos após desinfecção com álcool 70%. Rev Dent Press Ortod Ortop Facial. 2009;14(4):43-52.

WHO. World Health Organization. Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19). [citad 2020a Mar 16]. Available from: Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses

» https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses

WHO. World Health Organization. WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 - 11 March 2020. [citad 2020b Mar 16]. Available from: Available from: https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---11-march-2020

» https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---11-march-2020

WHO. World Health Organization - Regional Office for Europe. WHO announces COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic. [citad 2020c Mar 16]. Available from: Available from: http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/health-emergencies/coronavirus-covid-19/news/news/2020/3/who-announces-covid-19-outbreak-a-pandemic

» http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/health-emergencies/coronavirus-covid-19/news/news/2020/3/who-announces-covid-19-outbreak-a-pandemic