Hi There!

Imagine this scenario:  I'm cleaning out a septic tank. (Life may be
full of milk and honey.  But occasionally it's full of something
else...)

My hands are covered with bacteria and other microsopic nasties. 
There's little running water available due to a recent mudslide.

If I dunk my bacteria-laden hands into a bucket of isopropyl rubbing
alcohol, what percentage of the bacteria will be killed?  (Yes...this
is the same 70% rubbing alochol available in any supermarket.)


Are there more effective antiseptics which are commonly available?

A 5-star answer would be 2-4 sentences (total) on these topics.
Please note this is a trivia question.  Hence, precise medical
measurements are not necessary---a ballpark answer would be great.

All comments greatly appreciated.

Thanks a million!
ron

Here's a couple thoughts...almost all bacteria are vulnerable to
having their cell walls denatured by alcohols.  This chart from Iowa
State Public Health confirms that (most bacteria that live in our GI
tract are Gram negatives, some are Gram positives).

http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/BRM/resources/Disinfectants/AntimicrobialSpectrumDisinfectants0904.pdf

This document from Wright State University explains the uses and
alternatives to alcohol, and confirms that 70% isopropyl alcohol is an
ideal concentration.
http://www.wright.edu/admin/ehs/Biosafety/IBAppendixE.pdf

Finally, I would add that these susceptibilities are under the
assumption that you've loosened or removed the 'organic material' from
your hands, to make sure all the bacteria are exposed.  I wouldn't
necessarily consider your hands sterile if, after dunking them in
alcohol, there was still 'stuff' on your fingers.

jshaw---- Wow!

Just checked out the chart.  Although medical matters are not my "cup
of tea," this chart was truly fascinating.

From the Oxidizing Agents to the Phenolic Compounds...who knew!

Thank you very much!
ron


P.S.   All organic material is long gone.  ;-)