Inhibition of Human Peripheral Blood Neutrophil Respiratory Burst by Alcohol-Based Venipuncture Site Disinfection

Ethanol inhibits the respiratory burst of neutrophils. Therefore, the effects of alcohol-based skin disinfection on oxygen metabolism in neutrophils were tested using 70% ethanol or an ethanol–isopropanol–n-propanol mixture. Neutrophil respiratory burst activity as assessed fluorometrically by oxidation of 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein diacetate increased at 10 min after disinfection with 70% ethanol compared to the activity at 30 s. The increase was significant for triggering oxidative burst with formylpeptide but not with phorbol myristate acetate.