People exposed to an antimicrobial compound used in many consumer products are more likely to carry an opportunistic pathogen, increasing their risk of infection.
The bacterium Staphylococcus aureus (pictured in green) is normally harmless in healthy adults but can cause serious infections in sick or injured people. A team led by Blaise Boles at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor found that people with higher levels of the biocide triclosan in their nasal secretions had S. aureus colonies in their noses more frequently than people with little or no triclosan in their secretions. Triclosan, which is used in toothpastes, soaps and medical equipment, increased the binding of S. aureus to plastic, glass and human proteins such as collagen and keratin.
The results suggest an urgent need to re-evaluate the use of triclosan in consumer products, the authors say.
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Biocide boosts bacterial binding. Nature 508, 434 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/508434a
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/508434a
