Karen sn Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Have you ever heard of a kid getting a vaccine and the site becomes infected because the alcohol did not dry and so some bacteria from the kid's skin caused an infection? I know staph lives on the skin and could be a problem. But I have never heard of anyone getting a shot at the doctor's and getting an infection. I thought the deal with alcohol was you had to rub it vigorously for it to be good - hence the name "rubbing" alcohol. And I know iodine based disinfectants need to dry to kill things. But I never heard that alcohol has to dry - although I always let it for the stinging factor..... What say you? I think I'd want that wound cultured....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam "SFSOM" in TN Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Have you ever heard of a kid getting a vaccine and the site becomes infected because the alcohol did not dry and so some bacteria from the kid's skin caused an infection?I know staph lives on the skin and could be a problem. But I have never heard of anyone getting a shot at the doctor's and getting an infection. I thought the deal with alcohol was you had to rub it vigorously for it to be good - hence the name "rubbing" alcohol. And I know iodine based disinfectants need to dry to kill things. But I never heard that alcohol has to dry - although I always let it for the stinging factor..... What say you? I think I'd want that wound cultured....... Yep, alcohol has to dry. Just like the hand sanitizer that's alcohol-based has to dry to be effective. You know how you have to scrub an IV port (and a central line port for 15 secs) -- that has to dry or it's not effective. And you can't fan it or blow it to speed things up. I've never heard of getting infected from a shot, either, but if someone used less-than-careful technique, I can believe it. Lots of stuff on our skin, and lots of people are benignly colonized with MRSA, esp. in the nares. Often on the skin, too. No problem unless something becomes compromised, then watch out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soph the vet Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Contact time (i.e. letting it sit on there awhile, even drying) is more important than how hard you scrub a surgical or intravenous site. There are scientific studies on this. It is totally possible to get an infection from a routine vax. I would still have the wound cultured to make sure it is not a MRSA or something evil like that especially if it is not responding easily to antibiotics or your dc has other symptoms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen sn Posted March 31, 2009 Author Share Posted March 31, 2009 Thanks ladies! Just an FYI - this kid is a friend of a friend, I don't vaccinate. I was just worried for the kid and figured this place is sometimes better than google! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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