Bad Karma to have intent to KILL germs?

[Uilium]

If ones body comes in contact with an infection is it proper to take antibiotics with the intention to kill the lifeforms? Should we spray our trash cans with Lysol with the intention to kill germs? Is there anything in the Pali suttas or commentaries that is evidence that an Arahant might find it proper? Is there a line drawn somewhere?

[Sam Vara]

If ones body comes in contact with an infection is it proper to take antibiotics with the intention to kill the lifeforms? Should we spray our trash cans with Lysol with the intention to kill germs? Is there anything in the Pali suttas or commentaries that is evidence that an Arahant might find it proper? Is there a line drawn somewhere?

I have had this explained to me along the lines that panatipata is about the destruction of creatures that breathe. See, for example, Venerable Dhammika's point:

Like most people, the ancient Indians associated life with respiration and in fact one of the Pali words for animal life is apana, literally ‘breathing things.’ The first Precept actually says: ‘I take the precept not to harm breathing things’ (panati pata…), meaning that bacteria, sponges, plants, etc. are not included in the Precept.

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I don't know if any of the suttas specify which, if any, life forms are of less important in this respect. But as you raise the issue of intention, one might ask whether a person using antibiotics or lysol has the primary intention of killing, or of saving life and preventing suffering. I would imagine that the kammic consequences of killing as you describe are less than in the case where a person kills the lifeforms purely for fun; or where a person endangers or ends a precious human life because they neglected hygiene.

[LonesomeYogurt]

Germs and viruses are not sentient beings but instead complex forms of rūpa, like a computer or an automobile.

[marc108]

Germs and viruses are not sentient beings but instead complex forms of rūpa, like a computer or an automobile.

exactly. Viruses technically are not considered to be alive.

[Nyorai]

If ones body comes in contact with an infection is it proper to take antibiotics with the intention to kill the lifeforms? Should we spray our trash cans with Lysol with the intention to kill germs? Is there anything in the Pali suttas or commentaries that is evidence that an Arahant might find it proper? Is there a line drawn somewhere?

According to Buddha in sutra, anything beyond one naked eyes like germs issue, is not fault as one is not arahat yet. In a glass of water, there are 84,000 germs. Antibiotics is not killing, it actually harmonizing it and make one feel better when sick. Not all sickness need antibiotics. Lysol spraying cant actually kill germs, your intention killed. Never be too dogma over this otherwise, you may find difficulty living with other.

[pegembara]

Karma is intention. Was the intention merely to kill germs or to prevent disease and death? After all one doesn't pour antiseptic into a pond for no reason.

[barcsimalsi]

I don't think exterminating living thing that doesn't have consciousness is consider killing.