The study’s findings indicate that certain widely used chemicals in cleaning products, such as quaternary ammonium compounds and chloroxylenol, may not only eliminate bacteria but also encourage some strains to adapt over time, increasing their resistance not only to disinfectants but also to medical antibiotics.
According to the research published in a specialized scientific journal, repeated exposure to these compounds may allow stronger and more resilient bacterial strains to survive, making it more difficult to control infections in the future and posing additional challenges to healthcare systems.
Researchers noted that these products provide little added benefit in everyday household use compared to regular soap and water, emphasizing that excessive reliance on them may indirectly contribute to the emergence of so-called antibiotic-resistant “superbugs.”
On the other hand, representatives from the cleaning products industry stated that these findings are based on reviews of previous research rather than new clinical trials, asserting that the primary drivers of antibiotic resistance remain the overuse of antibiotics in both medical and agricultural sectors.
The researchers concluded by recommending reduced reliance on antibacterial products for non-essential household use, along with raising public awareness about the risks of overuse, while reaffirming that soap and water remain the safest and most effective option for daily hygiene.
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