There is a major debate amongst people on the efficacy of a product labeled antibacterial. Soaps, body washes and shower gels are a 5.5-billion-dollar industry. This September, the FDA will come to a decision on the debate; whether the ingredients listed on soaps labeled “antibacterial” are effective and if it’s better than washing one’s hands with just soap and water. If the FDA doesn’t think the products live up to what it’s claiming to result in, then the companies are going to have to go back to the drawing board by reformulating their product and taking down the claims that are on their labels. The Food and Drug Administration has sights on reviewing hand sanitizers as well as a reinforcing effort on the war on germs, especially in hospitals where workers deal with varied, virulent bacteria and diseases.
So whats the problem? Well, there is a commonly used chemical called triclosan that the FDA never took formal action against, although it has been criticized. There are studies that states that triclosan can “interfere with hormones and cause changes in thyroid, reproductive-growth and developmental systems.” Another problem? Research also points to the increasing utilization of antibacterials which aids in the creation of bacterias that are resistant to the antibiotics.
Theresa M. Michele, director of the Division of Nonprescription Drug Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research offers her advice: “At this point, wash your hands with plain soap and water, because we don’t have enough data demonstrating these antibacterial soaps are any better”.
Many environmental assemblies and scientists believe that not only are many products from the $30 billion cleaning-products industry less aggressive at combating germs than washing one’s hands with just soap and water, but are also hazardous and should be debarred.
“But the review notes that U.S. streams have a 60% to 100% likelihood of containing detectable quantities of the chemicals, and they have been detected in high levels in municipal sludge and drinking water, and urine and breast milk. While consumers may use soaps for a few seconds and wash them down the drain, their environmental afterlife is much longer, measured at time scales of up to several decades, the review found”.
Many antibacterial chemicals such as Triclosan work by weakening bacteria which is different from antibiotics which are designed to cure disease. Antibacterials are designed to prevent the spread of disease- causing bacteria to people who aren’t already infected.
There are warnings, that banning the antibacterial products would let the level of risk and exposure of the general population to bacteria skyrocket. “..increased infection and disease, including 7.5 million cases of food-borne illness and $38 billion in health-care costs annually.”
Rolf Halden, author of the review and director of Arizona State University’s Biodesign Center for Environmental Security says antibacterial agents, “can play an important role in hospitals and health-care settings, but they do not belong in all households, our food supply and our bodies at all times”.
Antibacterial soaps are no more effective than plain soap and water for killing disease-causing germs outside of health care settings. There is no evidence that antibacterial soaps are more effective than plain soap for preventing infection under most circumstances in the home or in public places.
Therefore, plain soap is recommended in public, non-health care settings and in the home (unless otherwise instructed by your doctor). There is no evidence that antibacterial soaps cause antibiotic resistance, but some scientists believe they may contribute to the development of antibiotic resistant germs.
Plain soap: Plain soap, whether it is liquid, non-antibacterial or in a soap dispenser is used with water coming out of faucet. Washing with plain soap is recommended for use in non-health care settings, its easy to find in stores and are usually less expensive than antibacterial soaps.
However, remember that rubbing your hands is the most important step in cleaning your hands.
Antibacterial soap: Antibacterial soap, whether its is in an antibacterial soap dispenser is used with water coming out of faucet. Usually antibacterial soaps are not needed in businesses or most homes (unless directed by your health care provider), and are no more effective than plain soap in killing germs on your hands or body. Antibacterial soaps must be left on your hands for about two minutes in order to have any effect on bacteria too.
So Liquid soap or bar soap?
Liquid soap: Liquid soap is generally recommended over bar soap for cleaning your hands. Liquid soap is easy to use and will not spread germs from one person to another. Many liquid soaps also include a moisturizing agent, so your hands may not dry out as quickly from frequently cleaning your hands.
Bar soap: Germs can grow on bar soap and easily spread from one person to another. Bar soap can be used in a household if no one has skin infections but should not be used in public places
Another way to clean hands: Hand Sanitizer.
Take Away: Wash your hands with soap and water when your hands are visibly soiled. If soap and water is not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer (wipes or gel).
Food handlers in restaurants, schools, delis and grocery stores must wash their hands with soap and water before applying hand sanitizers.
References:
1. Dow Jones & Company. (2016, February 16). Are antibacterial soaps safe? The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 19, 2022, from https://www.wsj.com/articles/are-antibacterial-soaps-safe-1455592023