title: Does microbicide use in consumer products promote antimicrobial resistance? A critical review and recommendations for a cohesive approach to risk assessment.
abstract: The increasing use of microbicides in consumer products is raising concerns related to enhanced microbicide resistance in bacteria and potential cross resistance to antibiotics. The recently published documents on this topic from the European Commission have spawned much interest to better understand the true extent of the putative links for the benefit of the manufacturers, regulators, and consumers alike. This white paper is based on a 2-day workshop (SEAC-Unilever, Bedford, United Kingdom; June 2012) in the fields of microbicide usage and resistance. It identifies gaps in our knowledge and also makes specific recommendations for harmonization of key terms and refinement/standardization of methods for testing microbicide resistance to better assess the impact and possible links with cross resistance to antibiotics. It also calls for a better cohesion in research in this field. Such information is crucial to developing any risk assessment framework on microbicide use notably in consumer products. The article also identifies key research questions where there are inadequate data, which, if addressed, could promote improved knowledge and understanding to assess any related risks for consumer and environmental safety.
authors.affiliation: 1 Cardiff School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University , Cardiff, United Kingdom .
authors.forename: Jean-Yves
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Maillard
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bloomfield
authors.forename: Joana Rosado
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.forename: Phillip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Collier
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cookson
authors.forename: Séamus
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fanning
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hartemann
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: McBain
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oggioni
authors.forename: Syed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sattar
authors.forename: Herbert P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Schweizer
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Threlfall
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D001692:Biological Transport; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D006795:Household Products / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009154:Mutation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D009626:Terminology as Topic
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents