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. 2019 Sep;103(1):e88-e91.
doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2019.01.024. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

Isopropanol at 60% and at 70% are effective against 'isopropanol-tolerant' Enterococcus faecium

J Gebel  1 , S Gemein  2 , G Kampf  3 , S J Pidot  4 , N Buetti  5 , M Exner  2
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Free article

Isopropanol at 60% and at 70% are effective against 'isopropanol-tolerant' Enterococcus faecium

J Gebel et al. J Hosp Infect. 2019 Sep.
Free article

Abstract

The bactericidal activity of isopropanol was determined against Enterococcus faecium ATCC 6057, ST 796 (isopropanol-tolerant strain) and Enterococcus hirae ATCC 10541 (EN 13727). Isopropanol at 60% and 70% were effective (≥5.38 log10-reduction) in 15 s against all strains but 23% isopropanol was not (<0.99 log10-reduction in ≤15 min). Isopropanol at 70% was tested against E. faecium in the four-field test. Eight millilitres was not effective enough in 1 min (<5 log10-reduction), whilst 16 mL was effective (≥5.85 log10-reduction). Healthcare workers can be reassured that 60% and 70% isopropanol with an appropriate volume are effective against E. faecium.

Keywords: Bactericidal activity; E. faecium; Four-field test; Isopropanol; ST 796; Tolerance.

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