AIBU to think a consequence of Coronavirus could be superbugs?

[Bluewavescrashing]

As the use of antibacterial products has rocketed in the last few weeks, could we be heading towards a superbug disaster?

Are they really effective against viruses anyway?

We're just moving this over to the right topic.

Yes. I think you’re right.

No they are antibacterial 🙄

I think some high alcohol gels give some protection against viruses, but people often use the gel instead of washing their hands. Not effective.

but... it's a virus. HIV is also a virus, as is ebola.

Do you mean will it mutate into something more serious ? I can imagine it would take a long time, it's very virulent so has no need to mutate as it is doing it's job. IMO

No

I don't think Coronavirus will mutate into something more dangerous.

I think that bacterial strains could mutate into superbugs as they become resistant to antibacterial products (sanitiser, sprays etc) . Antibiotics will have no effect on them.

Corona virus is a Virus.
'bugs' are Bacteria.
Totally different things

If you mean bacteria that are resistant to the antibacterials, then possibly yes. Refillable bottles of hibiscrub eventually get bacteria growing in them unless you wash them out and sterilise them periodically.

Superviruses? Probably not.

The antibacterials in soap and other products are not the same antibacterials as in antibacterial medicines (including antibiotics).

Not impossible resistance can be passed on, but probably not that likely.

OK... Please let me clarify.

I'm aware that bacteria and viruses are different things and that antibacterial gel doesn't kill viruses very well.

My concern is that, through overusing antibacterial sanitiser much more than normal, bacteria will become resistant to it and mutate. Hence, superbugs could be our next problem.

Really my issue is, why are people using antibacterial sanitiser so much at the moment when soap is so much better at killing viruses?

Hope that makes sense.

In that case OP I totally agree with you!
Just wash hands properly before eating and after the loo and after sneezing coughing and we are cushty

If we use basic soap or washing up liquid (thought to be better) no. It just kills the virus, any virus. It can't evolve out if the way soap kills it.

Antibiotics - bacteria can become resistant. I'm not 100 % sure of antibacterials are the same; I don't usually get them though for that reason as I though they did.

So yes, it's possible.

The best thing is just soap.

I actively avoid antibacterial soap and cleaning stuff for that reason.

I'm sure I read somewhere (maybe not a reliable source) that increased use of antibacterial hand-wash, gel, spray, wipes etc in normal everyday life could pose a problem.

The amount of sanitiser that some people I know are getting through made me wonder if it could cause massive problems.

Antibiotic overuse is a separate issue (although related).

YANBU

Tbh it wouldn't cross my mind to use antibacterial gel to protect against a virus. Am I missing something? Why are people using it so much?

"Antibac" seems to have become verbal shorthand for 'good cleaning fluid'. If you monitor liquid handwash in supermarkets, the "antibacterial soap" has been selling out before the ordinary handwash.

No. This is not a risk. The hand washing isn’t antibacterial, it’s antomicrobial. So it works against viruses and bacteria. This will not lead to super bacteria in the same way that using lots of antibiotics would.

I was wondering the same thing myself OP. Normally I would never buy antibacterial soap or wipes for this very reason. However over the past couple of weeks I've been using the high alcohol hand sanitiser when out and about and at work; and I white the dettol spray and wipes in the house that say they kill viruses as well as bacteria.

Do people reckon that washing up liquid and a flannel are just as good for wiping over door knobs etc?

Soap and water works because it catches the dirt in the soap. And the water washes it all off your hands.
So no, I think you need anti microbial etc cleaner for door handles.
Wonder what concentration of tea tree oil would be effective?