A proposal to reduce the amount of permethrin entering wastewater resultant from topical use to treat scabies

Abstract

The incidence of scabies is rising in the last years. Subsequently, the use of pharmaceuticals to treat the disease has also increased. Treatment with topical permethrin is usually recommended as a first line agent.This substance is also an aquatic contaminant that is toxic for many non-target organisms, and has been included as a priority substance in the recently published proposal of the European Water Framework Directive.Current guidelines neglect the potential environmental impact of this drug, recommending that the cream should be applied head to toe and “washed off after 8–12 h”.Recently, a wiping procedure before hand washing after application of the topical treatment resulted in a 66 % reduction of the amount of diclofenac released in wastewater. The authors suggested that this method could be explored for other topical treatments. In the case of scabiosis, a protocol implicating the whole body needs to be designed.The absorption of topical permethrin is low. Considering the growing incidence of scabies, the amount of the pyrethroid reaching the environment may also be increasing. Therefore, we believe that applying the wiping procedure to the case of topical permethrin deserves consideration. Other measures to minimize the amount of permethrin residues reaching wastewater by washing clothes and bed linen such as wearing single-use pijamas should also be explored.In conclusion, we need to apply a One Health approach in the treatment with scabies, without neglecting the environmental impact of pharmaceuticals. It is not rational to forget drugs once they go down the drain.