Inhibition of human peripheral blood neutrophil respiratory burst by alcohol-based venipuncture site disinfection

Ethanol inhibits the respiratory burst of neutrophils. Therefore, the effec ts of alcohol-based skin disinfection on oxygen metabolism in neutrophils w ere tested using 70% ethanol or an ethanol-isopropanol-n-propanol mixture. Neutrophil respiratory burst activity as assessed fluorometrically by oxida tion of 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate increased at 10 min after disin fection with 70% ethanol compared to the activity at 30 s. The increase was significant for triggering oxidative burst with formylpeptide but not with phorbol myristate acetate.