Scientists have found a link between antimicrobial substances and the levels of antibiotic resistant genes in dust particles, according to an article on the Becker's Infection Control & Clinical Quality website.
Previously, antimicrobials present in hand soap and other personal care products are typically flushed down the drain and have been linked to the presence of antibiotic resistant genes in waste water.
For the new study, published in Environmental Science & Technology, researchers sought to determine whether a comparable situation existed in the dust microbiome.
Scientists analyzed dust samples from an indoor athletic and educational facility and detected six links between antimicrobial chemicals and antibiotic resistant genes in dust microbes.
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