Which antiseptic is an alcohol-based agent among the four?

• A. Hexachlorophene
• B. Iodophors
• C. Alcohols
• D. Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG)

Answer: (C)

Alcohols are ethanol or isopropyl alcohols used as antiseptics. They act by rapidly denaturing proteins and dissolving lipids, giving fast broad‑spectrum antimicrobial activity and they evaporate quickly, which helps create a dry, ready-to-surgically-scrub field. However, once they evaporate, they don’t provide much residual effect, so in practice they’re often paired with another agent to maintain longer protection. Among the options given, the only one that represents an alcohol-based antiseptic is the Alcohols category. Hexachlorophene is a phenolic antiseptic, iodophors are iodine-based, and chlorhexidine gluconate is a biguanide antiseptic (not an alcohol-based class).