Final answer:
Cleansing the venipuncture site with 70% isopropyl alcohol is an example of degerming, aimed at reducing microbial presence to prevent infection. Isopropyl alcohol rapidly evaporates and possesses antimicrobial properties, but is not sporicidal and can cause skin irritation if used excessively.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cleansing the venipuncture site with 70% isopropyl alcohol and blowing on the alcohol to dry it is an example of degerming. This method is utilized to reduce the microbial population on the skin and is a common practice before needle injections to minimize the risk of infection. While isopropyl alcohol, or rubbing alcohol, is effective against bacteria, viruses, and fungi, it is not effective against bacterial spores. Moreover, alcohols dry quickly and are volatile, but could potentially cause skin irritation due to dehydration of the skin where applied.
It's important to note that while alcohols such as ethyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol act as antiseptics by denaturing proteins and disrupting cell membranes, the efficacy of isopropyl alcohol as a disinfectant is compromised in the presence of visible dirt. Therefore, it's essential that the skin is visually clean before applying alcohol for degerming purposes.
Isopropanol, or 2-methylpropanol, which is commonly known as isopropyl alcohol, is known to kill bacteria and viruses and is an active ingredient in hand sanitizers. A 70%vol aqueous solution of isopropyl alcohol is typically used for rubbing alcohol, the solution pharmacists and medical professionals use for disinfecting purposes.