Please Scroll Down to See Forums Below tempest2003
New member
okay well i ran out of alcohol prep pads however i do have plenty of rubbing alcohol %70, my question is, is using this on a cotton ball as sanitary as using an alcohol prep pad? let me know, thanks!
Question about using rubbing alcohol, vs prep pads
- Thread starter tempest2003
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Dr. M
New member
Soaking a cotton ball - sterile or non-sterile to begin with - in 70% isopropyl and using that to rub your skin is a perfectly acceptable practice.
The alcohol is the sterilant in the mix, so beginning with a clean but non-sterile cotton ball is NOT a problem. Just make sure that you soak it well with alcohol on the side which will be applied to your skin.
-M
The alcohol is the sterilant in the mix, so beginning with a clean but non-sterile cotton ball is NOT a problem. Just make sure that you soak it well with alcohol on the side which will be applied to your skin.
-M
My wife's doctor still uses rubbing alcohol and cotton balls. If it's safe enough for a guy that's been a doctor for over 40 years, it's good enough for me.
They also reuse syringes, but I won't go quite that far. He claims it's much cheaper, but I don't see how it is when you have to clean and sterilize them. I've also seen him and his nurses drop quite a few, so cleaning-up the mess and the glass makes them even less worthwhile to use.
They also reuse syringes, but I won't go quite that far. He claims it's much cheaper, but I don't see how it is when you have to clean and sterilize them. I've also seen him and his nurses drop quite a few, so cleaning-up the mess and the glass makes them even less worthwhile to use.
A
Animal
Guest
Neither one of them really does anything, so keep it up if it makes it work for you.
The medical establishment has studied it and specifically on stoppers and they found that all the alcohol did was move around the bacteria and even after 15 min all the bacteria were still active.
The medical establishment has studied it and specifically on stoppers and they found that all the alcohol did was move around the bacteria and even after 15 min all the bacteria were still active.
tempest2003
New member
walmart is 50 miles away =\JuicePimp said:
THEEGAME2544
New member
I used to use alcohol wipes, but found it more comfortable using a tissue, folding it in half and dipping some alchol on it then wiping the area. I feel that some alchohol pads are too thin and flimsy. But the point is that if your using alcohol, then the area your wiping is going to be mostly sterile.
So what is the point of alcohol swabs then? Genarr3, are you telling me you dont wipe either the stoppers or your skin before an injection? Why do doctors do this, to make the injectee feel better about it? Are we just hoping to move the bacteria out of the way temporarily or what?
It is my understanding that alcohol inhibits growth of bacteria. If this is true, then isnt there at least some benefit to prevent the rampant multiplying of the bacteria? There has to be a reason that this has come to be the accepted procedure. My doc taught me to do this (swab vial and skin) himself when I used to have to give myself allergy shots.
It is my understanding that alcohol inhibits growth of bacteria. If this is true, then isnt there at least some benefit to prevent the rampant multiplying of the bacteria? There has to be a reason that this has come to be the accepted procedure. My doc taught me to do this (swab vial and skin) himself when I used to have to give myself allergy shots.
buckwheat1
New member
Animal said:
This is the same thing that I found out. What I read was that alcohol is a poor anti-microbial agent and that it takes 15+ minutes of contact to work.
Like soap and water, the use of alcohol helps remove bacteria and dirt from the site before injecting.
tempest2003
New member
so how DO you get rid of and kill the bacteria then? i have some surgical scrub stuff my dad got when he was in the hospital, its called betadine, its like iodine color and in a fatty bottle. should i scrub down with this, then shoot after rubing with alcohol? or is it all useless? =\
Yes I wipe the stoppers and the injections site. Why is it done like this?JuicePimp said:
"Because that's how it's always been done"
Next time I run across the study I'll save it.
There's also another study involving diabetics. To make long story short there was no greater incidence of infection with those that followed detailed sterile procedure then those that injected through thier clothes.
Next time I run across that one I'll save it also, I know it's hard to believe.
Last edited:
buckwheat1
New member
tempest2003 said:
Everytime that I have had a IV or they have taken blood they always use betadine (I believe it does contain iodine. It is much more effective than alcohol..
While I think that alcohol does not do much, I still swab everything. Better safe than sorry.
buckwheat1
New member
genarr3 said:
I read the same study. It also mentioned that many diebetics reuse needles without issue.
Most likely if you get an infection is was probably due to the gear.
The do make betadine swabs too. I guess I might try buying some of these for the future. Down side is of couse the orange-brown stain the stuff leaves.
I cant believe that many diabetics reuse needles too. I remember the stern lecture I got from my doc when he let me start giving my own allergy shots at home. I would assume that insulin dependant diabetics would get a similar talk.
I cant believe that many diabetics reuse needles too. I remember the stern lecture I got from my doc when he let me start giving my own allergy shots at home. I would assume that insulin dependant diabetics would get a similar talk.
dzuljas said:
Actually the 70% alcohol is mopre effective for killing bacteria. We discussed this in a biochem class if the alcohol % is too high it evaporates to quickly when applied to the skin to be effective and anything below 70% wont kill the bacteria. Ideally i think the range was 70-80%
iron
solidspine
New member
YES
Cotton balls and rubbing alcohol are fine, remember the prep pads you buy are asceptic, not sterile.
Cotton balls and rubbing alcohol are fine, remember the prep pads you buy are asceptic, not sterile.
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