Bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics by disinfectants. Research increasingly shows the same process may make it resistant to certain drugs.

This can take place with an antibiotic the bacteria has not been exposed to.

Scientists from the National University of Ireland in Galway traced that by adding disinfectant to pseudomonas aeruginosa cultures, the bacteria became resistant not only to disinfectant but also ciprofloxacin, a commonly prescribed antibiotic, even without being exposed to it.

Researchers reported in the journal Microbiology that the bacteria had adapted to pump out anti-microbial agents from its cells. The bacteria also resisted ciprofloxacin as there was a mutation in their DNA that allowed this.

Dr Gerard Fleming after conducting a study stated, “At the high concentration levels generally employed this was unlikely to be a problem but in principle this means that residue from incorrectly diluted disinfectants left on hospital surfaces could promote the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Bacteria seem to be able to adapt to resist antibiotics without even being exposed to them.”

Research also stated that bug could be spread even by the disinfecting wipes used to protect against MRSA.