Potential impact of disinfectants on antimicrobial resistance development: summary
Published 24 October 2024
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2024
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1. Chief Scientist’s Group report summary
This project identified the range of disinfectants currently used in the UK and reviewed available information on their potential role in the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This will help the Environment Agency to understand how disinfectants can enter the environment and the extent to which they may drive the development of resistance in environmental microorganisms.
1.1 Background
Research on how exposure to antimicrobials drives the development of antimicrobial resistance in microorganisms has mainly focused on antibiotics. However, disinfectants are also antimicrobial chemicals and are used widely in homes, public and industrial buildings, and in agriculture. The aim of this work was to gain a better understanding of disinfectants in the environment and the role that disinfectants may play in the development of resistance.
1.2 Approach
To understand the chemicals currently used as disinfectants in the UK, information on substances authorised for use as disinfectants was collated using regulatory data. Additionally, information on the relative scale of use of the different compounds, source and pathways to the environment was collated from the scientific literature. A literature review was undertaken to identify studies on disinfectants and the development of resistance in microorganisms, with a focus on bacteria.
1.3 Results
The work identified those chemicals that are currently authorised for use as disinfectants in the UK and highlighted that information on the amounts used in the UK is not readily available. Furthermore, many of the substances are also used for other purposes as well as for disinfection and thus could reach the environment by many different routes. The literature search identified many studies reporting the potential for increased antimicrobial resistance following exposure to disinfectants.
1.4 Conclusions
This work provides information on the types of chemicals currently authorised for use as disinfectants in the UK and the pathways by which they can enter the environment. The lack of available information on usage of these substances will hamper any efforts towards future management options.
The report also provides an overview of the role of disinfectants in the selection for antibiotic resistance in bacteria. However, to date most studies have been undertaken at concentrations much higher than would be expected to be detected in the environment.
1.5 Publication details
This summary relates to information from project SC220008/R, reported in detail in the following output:
- Title: Potential impact of disinfectants on antimicrobial resistance development
- Project manager: Helen Wilkinson, Chief Scientist’s Group
- Research contractor: Holly Tipper, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
This work was carried out as part of the Environment Agency Chief Scientist’s Group research into AMR in the environment and has been funded by the PATH-SAFE programme which has been funded by HM Treasury through the Shared Outcomes Fund.
Enquiries: research@environment-agency.gov.uk.
© Environment Agency