What is benzalkonium chloride towelettes used for?

Benzalkonium Chloride (BZK) Antiseptic Wipes are an alcohol free, non-sting, hygienic cleansing towelette used to disinfect skin prior to withdrawing blood. This style of wipe is primarily used for perineal and maternity care.

Are BZK wipes safe?

Today, BZK is FDA-approved as an antiseptic and can be found in disinfecting and skin-prep solutions, as well as first-aid and other medical use products. It’s also commonly found in the products below, which you’ve likely heard of and may already be in your medicine cabinet: Antibacterial wipes such as Wet Ones.

What are antiseptic towelettes used for?

Alcohol pads and antiseptic towelettes are used by health care professionals and patients for preparation of the skin prior to injection, as well as in first aid to decrease germs in minor cuts, scrapes and burns. The use of these alcohol pads and antiseptic towelettes could cause infections.

Do benzalkonium chloride wipes sting?

Saturated with 0.13% benzalkonium chloride liquid solution. For effective cleansing of wounds and skin. Alcohol Free. Does not sting.

Is rubbing alcohol the same as benzalkonium chloride?

Whereas alcohol-based sanitizers kill germs chemically, benzalkonium chloride is more mechanical in the way it works. For that reason, it remains effective longer than alcohol-based sanitizers, keeping surfaces germ-free for hours after it is applied.

What does Bzk stand for?

BZK

Acronym Definition
BZK Ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken en Koninkrijksrelaties
BZK Benzalkonium Chloride (topical antiseptic)
BZK Briansk (Russia)
BZK Billy Ze Kick (band)

Is BZK antibacterial?

BZK has been used as a hand hygiene antimicrobial for almost 90 years. It has a long history of use in both surface disinfectants used in the food industry and as a skin sanitizer.

What are the side effects of benzalkonium chloride?

Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Why is benzalkonium chloride bad for you?

Clinically, benzalkonium chloride may cause eye irritation and is known to discolour soft contact lenses. Benzalkonium chloride in eye drops has also been reported to cause punctate keratopathy and/or toxic ulcerative keratopathy, especially in frequent or prolonged use or in conditions where the cornea is compromised.

Can you mix hydrogen peroxide and benzalkonium chloride?

Avoid mixing Benzalkonium Chloride (BKC) with citrates, iodides, nitrates, permanganates, salicylates, silver salts and tartrates. Incompatibilities have also been reported with other substances including aluminium, fluorescin sodium, hydrogen peroxide, kaolin and some sulfonamides.

How do you use benzalkonium chloride towelettes?

Directions

  1. Tear open packet.
  2. Unfold and use; discard after single use.
  3. Wet hands thoroughly with product and allow to dry without wiping.

Is BZK better than alcohol?

The graph demonstrates that users of alcohol had more bacteria on them than the users of BZK throughout the week. The line of best fit for the alcohol users had a rate of increase in cumulative colony counts of 11.785, whereas the BZK users rate of increase was 6.933.