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Highly concentrated amounts of alcohol (70% and higher) can kill bacteria by damaging the plasma membrane and denaturing proteins within the cell.

Gram-negative bacteria are more vulnerable to alcohol because they contain a thin peptidoglycan cell wall covered by an outer membrane. The outer membrane controls the passage of substances into and out of the cell. Alcohol dissolves the outer membrane. This allows substances that are normally blocked by the membrane to easily enter the cell through the thin peptidoglycan cell wall. In addition, cell contents leak out of the cell through the cell wall.

Gram-positive cells lack outer membranes and rely solely on thick peptidoglycan cell walls to protect them from the environment but can still be killed by alcohol.

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8y ago
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9y ago

Isopropyl alcohol kills bacteria because it penetrates the skin cell membranes to denature the protein that is inside bacteria. Isopropyl alcohol, also known as rubbing alcohol, also can kill fungi and viruses.

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9y ago

Drinking alcohol will kill some bacteria if you have a sore throat. It is not going to completely kill all of the bacteria though.

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Q: Does alcohol kill bacteria in sore throat?
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Continue Learning about Natural Sciences

Why is it important to know whether your sore throat is caused by a virus or bacteria?

You have to know the cause to know how to treat it. There are specific treatments that kill bacteria, and others that block the activity of viruses. Practically none of them work against BOTH viruses and bacteria.


When bacteria invades your body what kind of relationship is between you and sore throat?

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What does pink on agar means?

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Why should you gargel with salt-water when you have sore throht?

Warm salt water gargles help in a couple of ways. Salt has natural antibacterial properties, so the salt actually helps kill some of the bacteria causing the sore throat. Another way it helps is the warm salt water helps get rid of the mucous film covering the throat, which contributes to the soreness.


What human diseases are caused by bacteria?

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Why is it important to know whether your sore throat is cause by a virus or bacteria?

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Why is it important to know whether your sore throat is caused by a virus or bacteria?

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