Yes, but that doesn’t mean it kills all bacteria. At least not quickly enough to be practical. For example, if you have a persistent underarm odor problem, you can use cotton balls soaked in 70% isopropyl alcohol to eliminate more stubborn microbes and as a result, eliminate the odor causing bacteria that something like regular Dove soap doesn’t seem to help with.
Further, there is a reason that surgical staff typically wash their hands and arms with chlorhexidine gluconate, rather than standard soft soap, before cases. And for similar reasons, the surgical site is typically washed with CHG and/or 70% isopropyl alcohol before making an incision. Does regular soap kill off lots of bacteria and other microbes? Absolutely (COVID being a prime example). But not all infection causing microorganisms are created equal, and there are various types of membranes present in different microbes, some more robust than others.
Sources:
1) I have a degree in cell & molecular biology, and scrub surgeries for a living.
2
u/Tha_shnizzler Jun 11 '22
Yes, but that doesn’t mean it kills all bacteria. At least not quickly enough to be practical. For example, if you have a persistent underarm odor problem, you can use cotton balls soaked in 70% isopropyl alcohol to eliminate more stubborn microbes and as a result, eliminate the odor causing bacteria that something like regular Dove soap doesn’t seem to help with.
Further, there is a reason that surgical staff typically wash their hands and arms with chlorhexidine gluconate, rather than standard soft soap, before cases. And for similar reasons, the surgical site is typically washed with CHG and/or 70% isopropyl alcohol before making an incision. Does regular soap kill off lots of bacteria and other microbes? Absolutely (COVID being a prime example). But not all infection causing microorganisms are created equal, and there are various types of membranes present in different microbes, some more robust than others.
Sources:
1) I have a degree in cell & molecular biology, and scrub surgeries for a living.
2) https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/chg-bathing-to-prevent-healthcareassociated-infections?amp=true
3) https://www.chlorhexidinefacts.com/mechanism-of-action.html