Kan bruk av triklosanholdige produkter bidra til utvikling av resistente bakterier?
Sammanfattning
Triclosan is a widely used biocide with antimicrobial effect against various bacteria. It is included in many contemporary consumer and personal health care products, like oral and dermal products, but also in household items such as soaps and dishwashing liquids as well as plastics and textiles. At bactericidal concentration, triclosan appears to act upon multiple non-specific targets, disrupting bacterial cell wall functions, while at sub-lethal concentrations, triclosan affects specific bacterial targets. A number of studies have verified the occurrence of triclosan resistance in dermal, intestinal, and environmental bacterial species. Of major concern is the possibility that triclosan resistance may contribute to reduced sensitivity to clinically important antimicrobials, due to either cross-resistance or co-resistance mechanisms. While the number of studies elucidating the association between triclosan resistance and resistance to other antimicrobials in clinical isolates has been limited, recent laboratory studies have confirmed the potential for such a link in Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica.Thus, widespread use of triclosan represents a potential public health risk. The use of triclosan should be restricted to cases where there is a well documented intended effect. This will contribute to the prevention of development and spread of resistance to triclosan and other antimicrobials.