An increased bacterial resistance has been described for various antimicrobial agents, sometimes including a cross-resistance to antibiotics. The book is the first comprehensive reference resource on antiseptic agents, including their efficacy, natural and acquired resistance, adaptation, and cross-resistance.

1. Chemical characterization.- 2. Types of application.- 2a. Approval by ECHA.- 2b. Approval by EPA.- 2c. Amounts per type of application (overall environmental impact).- 3. Spectrum of antimicrobial activity.- 3a. Bactericidal activity.- 3b. Fungicidal activity.- 3c. Mycobactericidal activity.- 3d. Virucidal activity.- 3e. Sporicidal activity.- 4. Natural resistances.- 5. Adaptation after exposure.- 5a. Per type of typical application.- 6. 7. Cross-resistance to other biocidal agents.- 8. Cross-resistances to antibiotics.- 9. Proposal for responsible use (antiseptic stewardship).

VVarious antiseptic agents, such as chlorhexidine, are used for different applications, e.g. in healthcare, veterinary medicine, animal production and household products, including cosmetics. However, not all antiseptic agents provide significant health benefits, especially in some products used in human medicine (alcohol-based hand rubs, antimicrobial soaps).  While some products (antimicrobial soaps, surface disinfectants, instrument disinfectants, wound antiseptics) may contain one or more biocidal agents with a comparable antimicrobial efficacy but large differences in their potential for microbial adaptation and tolerance. An increased bacterial resistance has been described for various antimicrobial agents, sometimes including a cross-resistance to antibiotics. The book is the first comprehensive reference resource on antiseptic agents, including their efficacy, natural and acquired resistance, adaptation, and cross-resistance. It also discusses their and appropriate use in terms of a balance between their efficacy and the risk of acquired bacterial resistance / tolerance. Focusing on human and veterinary medicine and household products, it helps readers make informed decisions concerning against antiseptic products based on their composition. The book contributes to reduce any unnecessary selection pressure towards emerging pathogens and to keep the powerful antiseptic agents for all those applications that have a clear benefit (e.g. reduction of healthcare-associated infection).

Provides a comprehensive literature overview on efficacy, adaptation, acquired resistance and cross-resistance for various commonly used antiseptic agents Focus on the potential of antiseptics to enhance cross-resistance to antibiotics where multi-resistance has become a major global threat Offers practical guidance for academics, professionals and others to make informed decisions on various antiseptic agents in different types of products (e.g. alcohol-based hand rubs, skin antiseptics etc.) Helps to reduce unnecessary bacterial or fungal selection pressure so that the efficacy of useful antiseptics is not impaired in the future

GPSR Compliance The European Union's (EU) General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) is a set of rules that requires consumer products to be safe and our obligations to ensure this. If you have any concerns about our products you can contact us on ProductSafety@springernature.com. In case Publisher is established outside the EU, the EU authorized representative is: Springer Nature Customer Service Center GmbH Europaplatz 3 69115 Heidelberg, Germany ProductSafety@springernature.com