Disinfectants may be helping create superbugs
Research has led to calls for the products - Chlorhexidine and Mupirocin - to be more strictly regulated
Doctors have called for common hospital disinfectants to be regulated like antibiotics after studies suggest that the chemicals are helping create resistant superbugs, according to an article on The Herald website.
The researchers at Scotland's University of Aberdeen say that as many as 10 to 15 patients a month — in an average intensive care ward — are contracting infections linked to the overuse of disinfectants.
This has led to calls for the products - Chlorhexidine and Mupirocin - to be more strictly regulated.
The results suggest that healthcare facilities need to change the way they think about using disinfectants, particularly in the hospital setting. The research showed that in environments with a high concentration of disinfectant, previously harmless staphylococcus epidermidis bacteria can develop resistance to treatments commonly used to treat infection.
Despite the concerns over the use of the disinfectants, the researchers stops short of calling for hospitals to ban them.
March 25, 2019
Recent Posts
Aspirus Breaks Ground on New Chippewa Falls Hospital and Clinic
The estimated completion date of the facility is September 2026.
Cybersecurity Law's Expiration Could Leave Healthcare Facilities Exposed
The pending sunset of CISA 2015 threatens to weaken critical information sharing that helps healthcare facilities defend against cyberattacks.
Ground Broken on Northside Hospital Forsyth Expansion
The building and parking deck are expected to open in the fall of 2026.
Onslow Memorial Hospital Breaks Ground on New Medical Office Building
The initial facility is expected to open in January 2027.
The Fatal Flaws in Active Shooter Response in Healthcare Facilities
The most effective solutions to workplace violence are sophisticated emergency response planning and master level training for all employees.