Mixed isopropanol-methanol intoxication following ingestion of alcohol-based hand rub solution .

Traditionally, ingestion of alcohol-based hand rub solution results in isopropanol poisoning, which has a low toxicity. We describe a case of combined methanol and isopropanol intoxication by ingestion of alcohol-based hand rub solution. Metabolic acidosis was absent in our patient, presumably because formic acid production is blocked by isopropanol, which inhibits alcohol dehydrogenase. Our case highlights the importance of considering methanol intoxication in patients who ingested alcohol-based hand rub solution, even when there is no metabolic acidosis, and timely removal of the toxic alcohols by dialysis in these patients would prevent permanent retinal damage.
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