Isopropanol (i.e., isopropyl alcohol) is a clear, colorless, bitter liquid commonly found in “rubbing alcohol,” skin lotion, hair tonics, aftershave lotion, denatured alcohol, solvents, cements, cleaning products, and de-icers. Intoxication may occur through ingestion or inhalation of vapors, especially in infants.
The mechanism behind this antimicrobial action involves the denaturation of proteins and the disruption of cell membranes. When isopropyl alcohol comes into contact with microbial cells, it interacts with the lipids in the cell membrane, causing them to dissolve.