Alert! Superbug Threat Hiding in Your Home
We all know that antibiotic resistance is a MAJOR threat to seniors.
It’s already killed thousands of us, and it’s going to get a lot worse before it gets better.
Researchers are frantically searching for a solution to antibiotic-resistant superbugs – and a lot of natural solutions are showing real promise.
But the key to beating these bugs is to AVOID anything that would make bacteria stronger.
Unfortunately, scientists have just pinpointed something that’s doing just that.
And the scary part?
It’s marketed as a bacteria fighter… and you probably have it in your house right now.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a house that doesn’t have antibacterial soap in the bathroom, antibacterial dish detergent in the kitchen, or antibacterial toothpaste in the medicine cabinet.
From trash bags to clothes to bedding, everyday household items are treated with bacteria-fighting substances for the purpose of fighting harmful bacteria.
Seems like a good idea.
The only problem?
It’s actually contributing to antibiotic resistance.
Researchers found that a popular antibacterial agent called triclosan actually makes bacteria stronger and more resistant to antibiotic treatment.
For their experiment, the researchers wanted to find out what happened when triclosan was used in addition to antibiotics designed to kill bacteria.
They had two groups of E. coliand MRSA. One group was exposed to triclosan, while the other group was not. Then both groups were treated with antibiotics.
Under normal circumstances, one bacterial cell in a million survives the antibiotic. But in the presence of “antibacterial” triclosan, 1 in 100 bacterial cells survived.
In other words… the “antibacterial” agent permitted the number of harmful bacteriathat survived antibiotic treatment to increase by 10,000-fold.
That was a lab study, but a mouse was just as damning.
In a mouse model of a urinary tract infection, mice were given triclosan in their drinking water in order to replicate the levels found in most people (from all those common household antibacterial products you’re exposed to).
Then they treated the mice with the popular antibiotic Cipro (ciprofloxacin).
Ultimately, the mice given triclosan had 100 times more bacteria in their urine than those not given triclosan, and more bacteria stuck to their bladder wall.
The lead researchers said the difference between the two groups was “striking.”
I’ll say.
Then they suggested reevaluating the benefits of triclosan and other bacteriostatic compounds.
I’d say the time for evaluation is over.
Don’t bring any products into your house that hasthe word “antibacterial” on the label. It’s one important way you can do your part to NOT contribute to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance.
