New York: An international team of scientists is warning that everyday antibacterial soaps, wipes, sprays, and other “germ‑killing” products are quietly contributing to the global rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) while providing no added health benefit for most consumer uses.
Antibiotic-resistant infections already cause more than one million deaths worldwide each year and could rival cancer as a leading cause of death by 2050, according to the United Nations Environment Programme.
“Global AMR strategies have focused on hospitals and farms while overlooking everyday products used in homes that may contribute to resistance,” said senior author Miriam Diamond, a professor at the University of Toronto in a paper published in Environmental Science & Technology.
“Biocides from soaps and disinfecting products are washed down millions of household drains every day, entering wastewater systems and the broader environment where they create ideal conditions for bacteria to adapt and become harder to kill. With little evidence of health benefit, these uses should be a clear target for AMR prevention, Diamond noted.
Evidence shows biocides in many consumer products provide no added health benefit but the biocides do raise concerns about AMR and toxicity.
Major health authorities — including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and World Health Organization — recommend handwashing with plain soap and water rather than antibacterial soap for the general public.
The authors call on the World Health Organization and its partners to explicitly include consumer‑product biocides in the next Global Action Plan on AMR.
