MRSA & DISINFECTANTS

With the recent publicity concerning antibiotic resistant bacteria, we would like to briefly address this issue as it relates to antimicrobial products such as hard surface disinfectants, sanitizers and skin antiseptics.

• The classic definition of an antibiotic is a substance produced by one organism that inhibits the growth of another organism. Antibiotics possess specific cellular targets within the organism such as a particular site on an enzyme.

To use the analogy of a “lock and key” mechanism, antibiotics fit like a key into a lock to perform their purpose  with a lock and key mechanism, minor changes in the lock will make the key useless; a single mutation in an organism can make it resistant to an antibiotic rendering the antibiotic ineffective.

• Antimicrobial agents for use in hard surface disinfectants, sanitizers and skin antiseptics are not specific in their microbial attack mechanism. These products oxidize, denature or attack the organisms in multiple ways. Unlike antibiotics, these products are used outside the human body (in the environment) at concentrations that exceed the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) by factors of 100 10,000. Using our “lock and key” analogy, antimicrobials are equivalent to battering rams. If you were to use a battering ram to open a door, a small change in the door lock will not lessen the effect of the battering ram; a single mutation in an organism will not make it resistant to an antimicrobial.

In summary, microorganisms that have developed a resistance to antibiotics , such as Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are not resistant to U.S. EPA registered surface disinfectants. The mechanism by which surface disinfectants attack and kill microorganisms is completely different than the way in which microbes are attacked by antibiotics.

• This particular organism can live for an extended period (weeks) on hard surfaces such as doorknobs.  Regular, effective hand washing and sanitizing are recommended as a primary method of control (in addition to hard surface disinfecting).