Antiseptics: HSA Eligibility

What are antiseptics?

Antiseptics are substances that are applied to skin and other tissue that can reduce the chances of infection, sepsis and other complications by eliminating microbes and bacteria from the surface of skin. Antiseptics are separate from antibiotics that destroy bacteria within the body and from disinfectants that can destroy bacteria/microbes on non-living objects and surfaces. Antiseptics are often referred to as skin disinfectants, which are invaluable in decreasing the chance of complications from an injury (LIVESTRONG).

The role an antiseptic will play in treating an injury is based on its alcohol concentration. For instance, hydrogen peroxide has an alcohol concentration of 6 percent and is primarily used to cleanse wounds, while stronger solutions can be as high as 30 percent to be used as a bleaching or oxidizing agent. Antiseptics are used in a variety of medical settings and can play a viable role in a wide range of treatments, including hand washing, disinfecting skin before an operation, mucous membrane disinfection, preventing and treating infected wounds and burns and treating mouth or throat infections (National Center for Biotechnology Information).