Alcohol-based hand hygiene efficacy by organism (spore-forming vs non-spore-forming)
Core concept
- Alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) kills by denaturing microbial protein/lipid membranes - effective against enveloped viruses, most vegetative bacteria, fungi
- Ineffective against bacterial spores (C. difficile) - no lipid envelope to disrupt
- Reduced efficacy against non-enveloped ("naked") viruses - norovirus, rotavirus - much more resistant to alcohol
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