Vodka kills germs?

[Tony Stott]

loner wrote:
> 
> I remember a scene in the mini series 'The Burning Zone' that there was
> an outbreak on the plane. Doctors on the plane use Vodka to sterile
> their hands. Is it possible? What is the lowest possible concentration
> of ethanol that can use to kill pathogenic microorganisms?
> 
> --
> de mario
> 
> The SSSI
> http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Towers/7566/
> 
> ICQ list of biologists on the internet
> http://members.tripod.com/~atgc/

A brand of Vodka sold here is called "Polish Pure Spirit", it is 140
Proof which is, if I remember correctly under the British method of
determining proof spirits, the same as 70% ethanol !! - this is
concentration is decidedly unfriendly to bugs (and probably your liver
as well ;-)

-- 
Tony Stott
Department of Microbiology, Monash University
Clayton, Victoria, Australia

tony.stott at med.monash.edu.au