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A Common Household Ingredient Might Sabotage Your Antibiotics
https://gizmodo.com/a-common-household-ingredient-might-sabotage-your-antib-1832831414In 2017, the Food and Drug Administration finalized its ban of triclosan and similar chemicals from being used in consumer soaps marketed as antimicrobial. The agency cited evidence showing antimicrobial soaps with these ingredients don’t seem to prevent illness or even kill bacteria any better than a typical bar of soap and hot water. Even more worrying is a growing pile of research showing that triclosan can actually help create bacterial superbugs.
It’s thought that the way triclosan stops bacteria is too similar to how many antibiotics do the job. So bacteria that evolve resistance to triclosan also learn how to fend off those drugs. That’s definitely bad news, because triclosan eventually ends up everywhere in our environment, where it can promote broad antibiotic resistance.
That said, there’s definitely reason to be worried. UTIs, especially among women, are one of the most common infections that we rely on antibiotics to treat. And even with the antimicrobial soap ban, triclosan is still widespread. Other research has found that as many as three-quarters of Americans take in enough triclosan for it to be found in their urine.
Earlier this year, Colgate-Palmolive introduced a triclosan-free version of the Colgate Total toothpaste. While still arguing that the original version, the only U.S. brand of toothpaste approved to carry triclosan, was perfectly safe and better for your dental health than competitors, the company now claims its new version, made with stannous fluoride, “delivers even more benefits.”
If you’re unsure about whether you’re currently using any products that contain triclosan, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has a handy list you can check.
It’s thought that the way triclosan stops bacteria is too similar to how many antibiotics do the job. So bacteria that evolve resistance to triclosan also learn how to fend off those drugs. That’s definitely bad news, because triclosan eventually ends up everywhere in our environment, where it can promote broad antibiotic resistance.
That said, there’s definitely reason to be worried. UTIs, especially among women, are one of the most common infections that we rely on antibiotics to treat. And even with the antimicrobial soap ban, triclosan is still widespread. Other research has found that as many as three-quarters of Americans take in enough triclosan for it to be found in their urine.
Earlier this year, Colgate-Palmolive introduced a triclosan-free version of the Colgate Total toothpaste. While still arguing that the original version, the only U.S. brand of toothpaste approved to carry triclosan, was perfectly safe and better for your dental health than competitors, the company now claims its new version, made with stannous fluoride, “delivers even more benefits.”
If you’re unsure about whether you’re currently using any products that contain triclosan, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has a handy list you can check.
Here:
https://hpd.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/search?tbl=TblChemicals&queryx=3380-34-5