Skin with no dry days from disinfectants and antimicrobials... "Concerns about resistance and side effects," say US researchers

"Serious Overuse of Disinfectants Due to Pandemic
Side Effects May Occur from Antimicrobial Agents"

A research team in the United States argued that disinfectants frequently used during the COVID-19 pandemic should no longer be overused. They pointed out that excessive use of disinfectants can not only exacerbate the problem of antimicrobial resistance but also raise concerns about side effects.

On the 5th, a research team from Emory University in the U.S. stated that the harms of some disinfectant overuse may outweigh the benefits, and especially emphasized the need to eliminate unnecessary use of 'quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs)'.

The research team said, "Due to the pandemic, excessive use of wet wipes, sprays, and cleaning agents spread like a trend," adding, "Situations arose where antimicrobials were applied to items such as pillows, socks, furniture, booklets, or even durable goods."

While antibiotics are drugs that inhibit or kill all microorganisms, antimicrobials typically act specifically on bacteria.

[Image source=Pixabay]

According to the research team, antibiotics are usually prescribed by medical professionals after carefully weighing the benefits and risks of treatment.

However, when it comes to antimicrobials used to disinfect surfaces such as doorknobs or tables, the benefits versus risks are not carefully considered.

The research team pointed out, "Like pharmaceuticals, antimicrobial disinfectants can also cause side effects."

QAC components are used as sterilizing disinfectants for sterilization, disinfection, and deodorization in pharmaceutical manufacturing plants, cooling and dehumidifying systems inside buildings, or swimming pools.

However, QAC is a component that has been continuously controversial due to overseas studies showing it can have harmful effects not only on bacteria and viruses but also on animal and human cells.

According to a study published last month by a research team from the University of Minnesota, QAC can cause dysfunctions in the skin, respiratory system, development, and reproduction.

Accordingly, the research team advised that antimicrobials, like antibiotics, should be used only where effective and necessary, and replaced with safer products.

The research team stated, "In environments where frequent cleaning is necessary or harmful to health, products that can manage infections more safely should be used instead. Preventive measures should be taken because health risks persist like lead exposure or smoking. QAC use must be reduced before health and ecosystem health are irreversibly damaged."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.