title: Transdermal resorption of an ethanol- and 2-propanol-containing skin disinfectant.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ethanol- or 2-propanol-containing disinfectant agents are widely used in medical practice, particularly in the surgical environment. It was the primary objective of this phase I study to comparatively investigate the transdermal resorption of ethanol and 2-propanol within 1 h after dermal application of the two agents as single preparations and a commercial product containing both alcohols in combination, respectively. The secondary objective was to examine whether a mutual influence of the two alcohols in combination exists.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following the double-blind, randomized, three-times cross-over design for this clinical trial, 20 ml of three different alcohol-containing disinfectants were applied on a 200-cm(2) gauze swab on skin areas, identical in size and location, of 14 healthy volunteers for 10 min to investigate the absorption rate of ethanol and 2-propanol with special focus on the question whether the two alcohols might influence each other's absorption rate when being applied in combination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No clinically relevant enhancement of dermal absorption, with respect to ethanol and 2-propanol, could be observed within 1 h after application, neither when used as single preparations, nor in combination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Therefore, the use of ethanol- and 2-propanol-containing disinfectants in the medical environment can be considered as safe.
authors.affiliation: B.Braun Melsungen AG, Stadtwaldpark 10, 34212, Melsungen, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin Hartwig
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kirschner
authors.forename: Reinhold Andreas
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Burkhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Breuer
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Breuer
authors.forename: Corinna Schulze
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Gronover
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zwingers
authors.forename: Johannes Georg
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Böttrich
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arndt
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Brauer
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hintzpeter
authors.forename: Marc-Alexander
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Burmeister
authors.forename: Jan-Dirk
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Fauteck
mesh_terms: D019840:2-Propanol / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000096:Acetone / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000328:Adult; D019540:Area Under Curve; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004347:Drug Interactions; D000431:Ethanol / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012869:Skin Absorption / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004202:Disinfectants; D000096:Acetone; D000431:Ethanol; D019840:2-Propanol