RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate bactericidal efficacy of alcohol solution during actual use and typical storage conditions in community hospital and health centers. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The alcohol samples were collected immediately after the first bottle-opening (day 0) and on day 3, 7, 14, 21 and 30 from 10 stations in hospital and community health centers in Pone-na-kaew district, Sakon Nakhon province, Thailand, during May-July 2011. Bactericidal efficacy of these samples against Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae was evaluated. Ethanol concentration was quantified by a gas chromatography method. RESULTS: Bactericidal efficacy of the alcohol samples still remained on day 30 with ethanol concentration range of 60.91-65.99% v/v. CONCLUSION: This finding should be considered as a cost-benefit model for using alcohol solution in community hospital and health centers.