Using disinfectants doesn't stop hospital superbugs

Researchers from the University of Galway, Ireland, have discovered that using disinfectants on bacteria can have adverse effects: instead of stopping infection, the disinfectant can actually cause bacteria to develop a resistance to the disinfectant.

Worse still, the bacteria can even develop a resistance to antibiotics that it has never been exposed to as a result of becoming resistant to the disinfectant. The researchers tested on the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa and established that the bacteria could eventually survive not only the disinfectant, but also the commonly prescribed antibiotic ciprofloxacin – even though it had never been previously exposed to it. Crucially, the researchers discovered that small amounts of disinfectant left to culture with bacteria presented the biggest risk, as the adapted bacteria were more likely to develop further resistances when left with only a small amount of disinfectant.

“In principle this means that residue from incorrectly diluted disinfectants left on hospital surfaces could promote the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria” says Dr Gerard Fleming, research leader. “What is more worrying is that bacteria seem to be able to adapt to resist antibiotics without even being exposed to them.”

For more information on the study, contact Laura Udakis at l.udakis@sgm.ac.uk

Published: Monday, 4th January 2010 by Tom Freeman

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