Using surface disinfectants may contribute to bacterial antibiotic resistance, according to new research in January’s issue of Microbiology. We already know that the use of consumer-grade antimicrobial hand soaps contribute to the rise of antibiotic resistance. Similarly, the study demonstrated that when non-lethal amounts of disinfectant were added to bacteria in culture, the adapted bacteria were more likely to survive compared to the non-adapted bacteria. “In principle this means that residue from incorrectly diluted disinfectants left on hospital surfaces could promote the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria,” said Dr. Gerard Fleming who led the study. Bacteria that can resist both surface disinfectants and antibiotics could pose a very serious health concern to not only hospitalized patients, but the general public as well. [via Science Daily]
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Tags: antibacterial, antibiotics, bacteria, disinfectant, germs, microbiology, resistance
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Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.
December 30th, 2009 at 8:14 am
Why aren’t we motoring what the hospital’s are cleaning with more closely. It seems to me we would have less sick people if we would change our way of informing the public of ways to fight off germs.
December 30th, 2009 at 9:20 am
on sept27,2009 i was involved in a chemical exposure,recieved ,supervisor would not put in report 3 dats and nights of disorientaion pain inchest struggling to breath i went to work and demamed this to be addreesed,with mucch atitude i was walked to er ,there i was treated as well as ther knowledge was limited not to mentioned the panic i had started,as allso there were 2 deaths on this intesive care unite.iwas treated with antibioticzithromax2x daily 5day day pack,methyprendisolone (medrol dosepac also hydrocodone 5\500 every 4 hours
January 2nd, 2010 at 4:43 am
I APPRECIATE the findings of Dr Flemming and colleagues;my worry and question ,is what should be the new approach to antseptic preparation of both the the surgeon and the patient for a surgicalprocedure?