Resistance of bacteria to disinfectants and co-resistance of disinfectant-resistant bacteria to antibiotics

Abstract:

Disinfectants are organic molecules that kill pathogenic microorganisms on object surface, equipment, and skin, in the air and water, and carried by other vectors. They can kill pathogenic microorganisms in vitro and cut off their transmission routes to achieve contamination control, playing a role in ensuring life safety. However, the irrational use of disinfectants leads to resistance of bacteria to disinfectants. Horizontal transfer of disinfectant resistance genes between different species exacerbates the risk of transmission, aggravating resistance to disinfectants. Moreover, bacterial resistance to disinfectants may lead to co-resistance to antibiotics, posing a huge threat to public safety. However, the knowledge about resistance to disinfectants and co-resistance to disinfectants and antibiotics is limited. We review the research reports on the resistance of bacteria to disinfectants, introduce the mechanisms of disinfectants and the mechanisms of bacterial resistance to disinfectants, and expound the spread of disinfectant resistance genes and the co-resistance of bacteria to disinfectants and antibiotics. This review lays a foundation for reducing the emergence of disinfectant resistance and formulating reasonable specifications for the use of disinfectants.