What is the primary use of 70% ethyl and 90% isopropyl alcohol in healthcare?

The primary use of 70% ethyl and 90% isopropyl alcohol in healthcare is particularly focused on wiping medication vial tops and instruments. When preparing medications, it is essential to maintain a sterile environment to prevent contamination. The alcohol serves as an effective antiseptic, killing a wide range of microorganisms when applied to surfaces that may come into contact with sterile items.

Using alcohol pads or solutions to clean the tops of medication vials before accessing them with needles is a critical practice in preventing infections. This is important for the safety of the patient, as it minimizes the risk of introducing bacteria into the vial or the injection site. The concentration of alcohol is also important; 70% solutions are generally more effective for disinfection than higher concentrations because they contain enough water to help the alcohol penetrate microbial cell walls and effectively kill microbes.

In contrast, while some of the other options could involve the use of alcohol, they do not fully capture the primary and critical role that alcohol plays in the specific context of medication preparation and the maintenance of sterility in healthcare settings.