Antibacterial Soap Claims Just Don't Wash

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Tuesday, August 28, 2007

http://www.washingt onpost.com/ wp-dyn/content/ article/2007/ 08/28/AR20070828

01039.html

 

TUESDAY, Aug. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Antibacterial soaps that contain

triclosan as the main active ingredient are no better at preventing

infections than plain soaps, say University of Michigan researchers who

reviewed 27 studies conducted between 1980 and 2006 to reach their

conclusion.

 

The team also concluded that these antibacterial soaps could actually pose

a health risk, because they may reduce the effectiveness of some common

antibiotics, such as amoxicillin.

 

That's because -- unlike antibacterial soaps used in hospitals and other

clinical settings -- the antibacterial soaps sold to the public don't

contain high enough concentrations of triclosan to kill bacteria such asE.

coli.

 

" What we are saying is that theseE. colicould survive in the

concentrations that we use in our [consumer-formulate d] antibacterial

soaps, " researcher Allison Aiello, of the U-M School of Public Health,

said in a prepared statement.

 

" What it means for consumers is that we need to be aware of what's in the

products. The soaps containing triclosan used in the community settings

are no more effective than plain soap at preventing infectious illness

symptoms, as well as reducing bacteria on the hands, " Aiello said.

 

The study is published in the August issue ofClinical Infectious Diseases.

 

Other types of consumer antibacterial products that contain different

active ingredients such as alcohol (hand sanitizers) or bleach (household

cleaners) were not included in the study.

 

More information

 

The Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics has more about

antibacterial agents.

 

SOURCE: University of Michigan, news release, August 2007

 

© 2007 Scout News LLC. All rights reserved.

 

 

 

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