How your toothpaste can contribute to antibiotic resistance

Sydney, June 20: A common ingredient found in toothpaste and handwash may contribute to antibiotic resistance in body, warns a new study. A compound named triclosan, used in more than 2,000 personal care products which we use almost daily, may be increasing the spread of antibiotic resistance, the study said. “These chemicals are used in much larger quantities at an everyday level, so you end up with high residual levels in the wider environment, which can induce multi-drug resistance,” said lead researcher Jianhua Guo from University of Queensland in Australia. (IANS)