Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products in the Environment and Potential Risks of Emerging Antibiotic Resistance

摘要

Personal hygiene and cleanliness continue to represent important strategies for the maintenance of good health. Yet the introduction, within the community, of personal care products containing antimicrobial chemicals merits further review. While use of antimicrobial chemicals is both valid and appropriate in the healthcare setting where the potential for infection is great, its benefit in the community is unclear. In this chapter, we discuss personal care products containing the antimicrobial chemicals triclosan, triclocarban, and benzalkonium chloride, assessing their effectiveness for reducing disease in the community setting and growing concerns regarding the potential hazards to individuals and communities, especially the threat of emerging antibiotic resistance.