Many hospitals have returned to the massive use of chemical disinfectants since the start of the coronavirus epidemic.
But doctors recall their health risks, and call for more regulated use.
When the health crisis makes readopt bad reflexes.
Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, to maintain their premises and under the pretext of eradicating the virus as best as possible, many hospitals have emerged from the closet of chemical disinfectants.
But doctors warn about their massive use and its consequences for health.
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These powerful chemical disinfectants, called biocides, had been replaced by products less harmful to the environment and human health for several years.
But with the appearance of the coronavirus, in many hospitals, these stripping products have been brought out despite the risks.
Hygienist at Hyères hospital, Doctor Philippe Carenco warns: "These biocides are used with frenzy within the framework of the Covid, most of the time without any justification, not even from a medical or scientific point of view", explains- he at the microphone of Europe 1.
These products, he adds, "are responsible for many occupational diseases, in particular respiratory diseases such as occupational asthma or dermatological diseases".
Return to regulated use
But above all, these products strengthen the resistance of bacteria.
For Professor Carenco, we are creating the resistant bacteria of tomorrow because we want to disinfect too much in this period of pandemic.
The main risk is to make these bacteria resistant to antibiotics, and therefore to create formidable nosocomial diseases by being zealous in cleaning.
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This applies to the uses of disinfectants in hospitals, but also to the uses of general public disinfectants.
The doctors of the Sustainable Development Health Committee have been alerting to these subjects for the past fifteen years.
They do not recommend to stop, but to return to regulated use.
In hospitals, for example, we could halve their use, and this is what several hundred hospitals in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur have already done.
Microfiber cloths can be used
But what to use instead?
Microfiber cloths or steam machines can be used, methods without chemicals that are even more effective in preventing disinfection according to doctors.
In some hospitals, cleaning products based on probiotics are also used.
These are good bacteria that we spread to prevent harmful bacteria from developing.
These methods are not at all anecdotal.
93% of health professionals surveyed have adopted or say they are ready to adopt these practices to reduce the environmental, but also societal and social impacts of hospitals.