Today, bacteria are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics and there is scientific evidence that the use and misuse of biocides such as disinfectants, antiseptics, or preservatives can contribute to antibiotic resistance. If and how this might occur has been explored in the recent opinion on “Antibiotic Resistance Effects of Biocides” by the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) of the European Commission.

Biocides are added to many consumer goods such as cosmetics and detergents to kill bacteria or inhibit their growth. They are widely used in animal husbandry, food production and health care.

According to the SCENIHR report, biocide use could pose a direct threat to human health if it leads to the survival of some harmful bacteria which are resistant to antimicrobial products. Even the emergence of harmless resistant bacteria could pose
Can indirect threat, since their genes that confer resistance might be transferred to harmful bacteria.
To safeguard our ability to treat infections with antibiotics, a good hygiene to prevent infection and the appropriate use of biocides are crucial.

Different biocides act in different ways and some are more likely to lead to the emergence of resistant bacteria than others.
The risk of spreading resistant genes depends on the type of bacteria involved. Bacteria that grow as a biofilm attached to a surface are particularly able to survive hostile conditions and pose a high risk of resistance to both antibiotics and biocides.

For further details read the full GreenFacts summary on the Effects of Biocides on Antibiotic Resistance