How is a sanitizer different from an antiseptic?
Currently, antiseptics are commonly called
This is the main difference—the scopeapplications. The fact is that medical antiseptics can be almost identical to a sanitizer in composition, but they are very different in the conditions of manufacture and use.
Manufacturers of antiseptics for medicine havespecial licenses and approvals for production; we purchase only proven raw materials. To guarantee the effectiveness of the antiseptic, clinical trials are required and an opinion is issued on behalf of a certified scientific center.
Manufacturers of sanitizers usuallyclassified as a cosmetic product do not face as many difficulties. In theory, a sanitizer can be made identical to a medical antiseptic in its properties, but — It’s unclear why.
- Sanitizer— usually products for massconsumer, which to some extent can fight bacteria, viruses, fungi — separately or together. The effectiveness of such drugs is rarely confirmed by the conclusions of serious scientific institutions, and, in fact, this is not required.
- Antiseptics— usually a product of specialized use, the production process of which and its effectiveness are controlled by the state.
Further in the material we will talk mostly about antiseptics, since their development is regulated, and there are also studies of effectiveness.
Antiseptic action
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers handrub as an appropriate alternative to soap and water for maintaining hand hygiene.
Experts from the Center (CDC) believe that the mostWashing hands with soap and water is a reliable way to prevent transmission of dangerous diseases. If water and soap are not available, it is recommended to use hand sanitizers that contain at least 60% alcohol.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers kill many different types of bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant bacteria and Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
They are also characterized by highvirological activity against many different types of viruses, including enveloped viruses such as influenza, ARVI and HIV viruses, norovirus, Clostridioides difficile, endospores, protozoan oocysts and non-enveloped viruses. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers also kill fungi.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers canbe ineffective in low amounts or concentrations. Although isopropyl alcohol is effective in killing most bacteria, the exposure time required to destroy cells is not met because the alcohol typically evaporates in less than 10-15 seconds.
Researchers state that using 0.3 mlAlcohol-containing hand sanitizer is no more effective than regular hand washing with water and soap, but when the volume is increased to 0.5 ml, the effectiveness of alcohol increases significantly.
In a work environment with high levels of lipid orprotein waste (eg food processing) using only alcohol-based hand sanitizer may not be sufficient to ensure good hand hygiene.
Alcohol also removes the top layer of fat from the skin,which can negatively affect the protective functions of the skin. However, hand washing with detergents such as commonly used soaps further degrades the skin's defenses compared to alcohol-based products, causing significant loss of skin lipids.
Composition
For effective microbial control, concentrationalcohol in hand cleaners should be above 80%. For healthcare facilities such as hospitals and clinics, the optimal concentration of alcohol to kill germs is between 70% and 95%.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers,which contain two different bacteria-fighting agents (i.e., alcohol and gluconate), are significantly more effective preoperative topical skin antiseptics in hospitals than alcohol itself. Most alcohol-based hand sanitizers contain a humectant to help protect your hands from becoming too dry.
The same ingredients are used in bothover-the-counter hand sanitizers and hospital antiseptics, and include alcohols (ethanol, isopropanol, and others), sometimes in combination with other compounds such as quaternary salts (benzalkonium chloride).
The use of quaternary salts is aimed mainlymay increase the antimicrobial effectiveness of the product, however, these compounds may cause allergic reactions in some people. However, allergic reactions to quaternary salts are extremely rare, and the benefits of their use (increased antimicrobial effectiveness) far outweigh the risks.
An effective sanitizer should contain at least60 percent ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, or n-propanol. Unfortunately, such a composition can lead to skin irritations and allergic reactions, and with frequent use - to eczema and even skin cancer. Some researchers add heart and liver problems to the list.
Nevertheless, there are works showing thatfrequent application of hand sanitizers cannot affect internal organs. After all, ethanol - and it is with it that most of the negative consequences are associated - does not penetrate the body through the skin in concentrations sufficient for poisoning.
Household use of antiseptics
In addition to hand disinfection for medical personnel,Alcohol-containing hand sanitizers are recommended by doctors for use in household conditions for the population, especially in crowded places where there is no washbasin with water and soap.
Household hand sanitizers are available insmall bottles with a capacity of 50, 30 or 10 ml, as well as in polyethylene bottles with a volume of 300-500 ml with a dispenser for use in production, in the office or in public places, the substance can be in gel form or a spray.
Typically, in addition to alcohol, household hand sanitizers contain additives that soften the skin of the hands, most often glycerin, and fragrances.
Alcohol does not remove grease and dirt, but they, asstudies show weaken the effect of antiseptics. Therefore, many specialized organizations, including WHO, Rospotrebnadzor and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advise using them only if it is not possible to simply wash your hands.
Antiseptic safety
According to a study by Australian scientists,The main danger of antiseptics is that they contribute to the emergence of superbugs - microbes that are resistant to most antibiotics and disinfectants.
This is due to the mutation of nosocomial infections. However, the mechanism of the emergence of resistance in all microorganisms is approximately the same.
Thus, the alcohol contained in antiseptics actsagainst the least resistant pathogens, but the mutated ones hold out until the last. And if any of them survives, they will pass on the resistance gene during reproduction.
Cell membranes in bacteria and lipid membranesviruses can become immune to ethanol. By the way, to avoid this, Rospotrebnadzor recommends not to wipe traces of antiseptic from your hands for at least 30 seconds after application.
Consequences of using antiseptics
Today we already know about several dangerous superbugs that have appeared due to the fact that doctors and nurses often use antiseptics in hospitals.
First of all, these are enterococci, which cause a wholea scattering of diseases - from urinary tract infections to meningitis, as well as E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, provoking pneumonia and bloodstream infections.
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