Certified Healthcare Safety Professional (CHSP) Practice Exam

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What is Isopropyl alcohol commonly used for in a healthcare setting?

  1. As a disinfecting agent

  2. As an anesthetic

  3. As a preservative

  4. As a patient medication

The correct answer is: As a disinfecting agent

Isopropyl alcohol is widely utilized in healthcare settings primarily as a disinfecting agent. Its efficacy in eliminating bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens makes it an essential tool for maintaining sterile environments, especially in clinical and surgical areas. It is commonly used to sanitize surfaces, instruments, and even skin before injections or minor procedures, helping to reduce the risk of infection. In contrast, other choices do not accurately represent the primary functions of isopropyl alcohol in healthcare. It is not used as an anesthetic since those require specific medications capable of blocking pain sensations. While isopropyl alcohol can have some preservative properties, particularly in laboratory settings, it is not typically categorized or utilized as a preservative in a healthcare context. Finally, it is not used as a patient medication; medications must be carefully formulated to be safe and effective for patient treatment, which is not the case for isopropyl alcohol as it is primarily for external use and not administered to patients directly.