Will Widespread Antibiotic Use Damage Environments?

[jimmydasaint]

I am a bit worried about the wide range of household products available which contain antibiotic. For example, at a rare visit to the supermarket, I noted that it was possible to obtain antibacterial toothpaste, washing up liquid, hand soap, washing powder, cream cleaners etc...

I wonder if this over-use of antibacterial chemicals will raise a huge population of bacteria resistant to antibiotics?

Has anyone tested for antibiotic resistance, and is there an environmental impact of which we are unaware - either in the human bacterial environment (gut, skin, nose, airways) or in the wider environment (household table tops, sewer water, waste water from homes)?

[StringJunky]

TCS* from household products has been detected in treated wastewater, raising additional concerns for human and environmental health. TCS in surface and groundwater could contaminate drinking water supplies and enter the food chain.

 

* Triclosan

http://tools.niehs.nih.gov/srp/1/ResearchBriefs/pdfs/SRP_ResearchBrief_213.pdf

 

Here's a meta-study paper's conclusions on the efficacy of antibacterial soaps and interpretations so far of bacterial tolerance to these products which though not fully conclusive warrant further research:

 

The results of our review call into question the marketing of soaps containing triclosan as a product providing efficacy beyond the use of plain soap in the community setting. Soaps containing triclosan at concentrations used in the community setting (0.2% or 0.3% wt/vol) were generally no more efficacious than plain soap at preventing infectious illness symptoms and reducing bacterial levels on the hands. Several studies demonstrated laboratory evidence of triclosan-adapted cross-resistance with antibiotics among multiple species of bacteria. There are still too few studies that have been conducted in the community setting to adequately assess whether the emergence of antibiotic resistance in that setting is associated with the use of consumer soaps containing triclosan. Longitudinal studies are needed to assess changes in levels of antibiotic resistance associated with use of soap containing triclosan over time, and large databases of isolates are required to examine within-species changes in antibiotic-resistance profiles. Still, current findings warrant actions by the FDA for evaluating consumer product advertising claims. Future research should be directed at addressing both the efficacy of and risks associated with the use of triclosan. For instance, data are needed to assess whether products containing triclosan provide an added level of protection among high-risk groups, such as immunocompromised individuals living in the household setting.

http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/45/Supplement_2/S137.long

 

The disturbing thing I got from my readings was that topical application of bactericidal products did not improve the level of hygiene over non-bactericidal products except in specialised environments where hygiene was paramount like operating theatres and these products were about twice as concentrated with the effective ingredient than the consumer versions. One must also consider a regimented hygiene procedure and environment is also very important to the efficacy of any hygiene product which quite frankly will be lacking in most domestic situations. It appears consumers of these products may be harming the community at large and the environment long-term for no real net benefit to themselves.

[John Cuthber]

I am a bit worried about the wide range of household products available which contain antibiotic. For example, at a rare visit to the supermarket, I noted that it was possible to obtain antibacterial toothpaste, washing up liquid, hand soap, washing powder, cream cleaners etc...

 

I wonder if this over-use of antibacterial chemicals will raise a huge population of bacteria resistant to antibiotics?

 

Has anyone tested for antibiotic resistance, and is there an environmental impact of which we are unaware - either in the human bacterial environment (gut, skin, nose, airways) or in the wider environment (household table tops, sewer water, waste water from homes)?

You need to understand the difference between antimicrobials and antibiotics.

Nobody is using penicillin (for example) to make dish washing soap.

 

Overuse of antibiotics is a major concern, but this is a different problem.

[StringJunky]

You need to understand the difference between antimicrobials and antibiotics.

Nobody is using penicillin (for example) to make dish washing soap.

 

Overuse of antibiotics is a major concern, but this is a different problem.

Good point JC. That difference I overlooked.

[overtone]

 

You need to understand the difference between antimicrobials and antibiotics.

There is little relevant difference. The problems with the general class are essentially the same as the problems with any specific member of it, such as an "antibiotic" (anti-bacterial).

 

Nobody is using penicillin (for example) to make dish washing soap.

But they are using antibacterials, and resistance to them is potentially generalizable.

 

And as for the OP: general antimicrobials are more, not less, likely to have larger ecological effects.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimicrobial

[StringJunky]

It would appear the OP is just mixing terms when he likely actually meant antimicrobials of which antibiotics is a subset.

 

Antibiotics are the products of microbes; in dilute solution, they inhibit or kill other organisms. Antimicrobial agents include antibiotics and synthetic compounds that have the same effect. http://www.cosmeticsandtoiletries.com/formulating/function/preservatives/62592027.html

[John Cuthber]

There is little relevant difference. The problems with the general class are essentially the same as the problems with any specific member of it, such as an "antibiotic" (anti-bacterial).

Please explain how the widespread use of, for example, hypochlorite bleach, will increase the incidence of immunity to penicillin.

[CharonY]

One should not mix up these classes, as the impact may be quite differently. Another aspect to consider in addition to the rise of resistances (be it to either class, though far more obvious and prevalent for antibiotics), is the effect of these compounds on bacterial (and other) communities in nature. A higher prevalence of antibacterial compounds may very well disrupt certain processes in water and soil with yet unknown consequences. Finally, neither of these compounds are particularly healthy for non-bacteria, either. Granted, TCS has not shown to have any drastic harmful effects and connections with endocrine disrupting functions are spurious at best right now. Nonetheless, one has to wonder why to put it in in the first place, as it does not have any measurable health advantages.