Why do nurses and physicians use 70 alcohol to wipe the skin before giving injection?

Answer 1

Answer #2:

The alcohol disinfects the injection site. If there is bacteria on the injection site, a syringe can drive the bacteria into the blood stream, this is known as septicemia (Basically blood poisoning). Septicemia, left untreated, will quickly cause sepsis, which is a whole-body inflammatory response from infection. Basically your entire body becomes infected since the bacteria can now travel to every organ in your body via the blood stream. Untreated, sepsis will kill you. It will cause systolic and diastolic heart failure, disruptions of the protein synthesis function in the liver, which makes your blood unable to clot while causing chemical imbalances, encephalopathy (Disorder in the brain) and acute respiratory distress syndrome in the lungs.

What are the chances that this will happen? Not that high, since leukocytes are there for fighting off infection (However it's too late for your immune system to fight the bacteria if it's already caused sepsis). Unless it's an unusually potent bacteria or one with functions that disable your immune system (Such as B. anthracis), your immune system is already being taxed by another disease, or you are very young or old, the chances are slim. But it's better to safe than dead.

Answer #1:

To disinfect the injection site.

Answer 2

Pads containing 70% Isopropyl alcohol are used to clean the injection point. The alcohol kills most of the germs that can cause infection.

Answer 3

Alcohol and disinfectants are applied so the injection doesn't acidentaly push any germs or band stuff in the body. Also it softens up the skin so the injection is less painful.