Is Alcohol in Hand Sanitizers Absorbed Through the Skin or Lungs? Implications for Disulfiram Treatment.
Alcohol Alcohol
; 55(4): 354-356, 2020 Jun 25.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-245703
ABSTRACT
AIM:
In view of the increase in the use of ethanol-containing hand sanitizers throughout the world due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, we wished to review the possible risks to patients treated with disulfiram, following a case report in which an apparent DER (disulfiram-ethanol reaction) was attributed to the cutaneous absorption of alcohol from hand sanitizers as well as by inhalation of vapour.METHOD:
Simple experiments to assess the levels of absorption by each route separately.RESULTS:
Our results strongly suggest that while amounts of alcohol sufficient to cause a DER may be inhaled when hand sanitizers are used in confined spaces, absorption can be avoided by dispersal of the fumes, and absorption from the skin alone does not occur in pharmacologically significant quantities.CONCLUSION:
Warnings about absorption of alcohol through the skin from hand sanitizers and products such as perfumes, deodorants and after-shave (whose use is often warned against when disulfiram is prescribed) should be modified accordingly.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Pneumonia, Viral
/
Coronavirus Infections
/
Disulfiram
/
Ethanol
/
Hand Sanitizers
/
Betacoronavirus
Type of study:
Prognostic study
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Alcohol Alcohol
Year:
2020
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Alcalc
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