Antibacterial Products

Difference between Antibacterial and Regular

• Antibacterial soaps contain a chemical called Triclosan or Triclocarbon
• Roughly 39 cents more

What is known about Antibacterials?

• Triclosan works as an antibacterial by destroying a lone part(The enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase)
• Commonly used in "Antibacterial" Liquid soap
• Started being used often in the 1960's
• Triclosan is also used as a pesticide in agriculture

Myths?
You are more protected from sickness when you use Antibacterial soap!(... Not Really)

Truths!

• In the same sense that Antibiotics can eventually lead to increased immunity of bacteria, Antibacterials also creat stronger, more dangerous bacteria
• Examples: E. Coli mutations, Salmonella (On kitchen counters)
• Some bacteria are also good, such as the ones who help you process certain nutrients

What does this mean?

• Since bacteria build up a resistance, it makes keeping the sickness at bay is nearly impossible
• Some also believe that the use of Antibacterials may also affect the efficiency of Antibiotics when the sickness is brought into the body
• If overused, the antibacterial products could have a toxic effect in our human environment

STUDIES

Study showing that participants over one year using either Antibacterial soap or plain soap both had similar levels of sickness comparing each case to each other

Data from studies testing the antibacterial cross-resistance after a year long use of triclosan antibacterial soaps

Data testing the relation between household use of antibacterial and Antibiotic resistance.

Results?

• The first set of studies showed that people who used antibacterial soap got sick just as much on average as the people who used normal Oil-Lye soap (Concentrations of Triclosan less than 1.0%)
• 7 of the 11 tests in table 2 showed that there was increased cross-resistance with the use of antibacterial soap
• Minimum Inhibitory Concentration showed to increase with the constant household use of triclosan based products

What actions should then be taken?

• Use Antibacterial products sparingly(Only when the extra antibacterial is needed)
• Use Bleach/Chlorine containing cleaners to disinfect counters
• Wash your hands often and properly
• Wash your Fruits/ vegetables before preparing(Rinse meats in water)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Tufts University & Nutrition Letter 16.3 (98): 1-3. Reliable because they are a university letter, and it has a specific issue number
• Aiello, Allison E., Elaine L. Larson, and Stuart B. Levy. "Consumer Antibacterial Soaps: Effective or Just Risky?" Oxford Journals. Infectious Disease Society of America, 2007. Web. 13 Jan. 2016. Reliable because it is a lab written by the young scientists in Oxford with an unbiased point of view
• "FDA Taking a Closer Look at 'Antibacterial' Soap." U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA, 16 Dec. 15. Web. 13 Jan. 2016. Reliable because it is a federal organization, making it necessary to be unbiased and honest