why don't we use antiseptics as antibiotics?

Question

Microbiology Question

Answer 1

Because antiseptics are poisonous to humans.

Answer 2

This was the fundamental question of the 1930's. Antiseptics kill germs - the problem is they kill healthy tissue too. In the early 20th century the quest was to find a way to deliver antiseptics directly just to the germ cells and spare the good cells. The dye companies tried to bind antiseptics to various dyes.... since it was known the certain dyes stain only various bacteria. Didn't work out.... but it did lead the discovery of the sulfa drugs..... which were the first antibiotics.