Soap Versus Soap
August 18, 2007
It is a popular belief or even understanding by consumers that an antibacterial soap is more effective that a beauty soap which is loaded with creamy lather and fragrance. The following article really surprised me and I am sure quite of you will also follow my lead.
Washing hands with antibacterial soaps does not remove any more bacteria than plain soaps. A new study has found that they may turn some common antibiotics less effective. A study by the University of Michigan has found that because of the way the main active ingredient, triclosan, in many antibacterial soaps reacted in cells, it might cause some bacteria to become resistant to commonly used drugs such as amoxicillin. As part of the study titled “Consumer Antibacterial Soaps: Effective Or Just Risky.”
Allison Aiello and colleagues examined 27 studies conducted between 1980 and 2006, to check anti-bacterial soaps resistance to e-coli bacteria bugs when exposed to as much as 0.1 percent wt/vol triclosan soap. The study found that soaps containing triclosan within the range of concentrations commonly used in the community setting (0.1 to 0.45 percent wt/vol) were no more effective than plain soaps. Triclosan works by targeting a biochemical pathway in the bacteria that allows the bacteria to keep its cell wall intact. Due to the way triclosan kills the bacteria, mutations can happen at the targeted site.
The study noted that mutations could mean that triclosan can no longer get to the target site to kill the bacteria because the bacteria and the pathway have changed form.
Allison Aiello, the researcher said, “What we are saying is that these e-coli could survive in the concentrations that we use in our (consumer formulated) antibacterial soaps. 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 setting are no more effective than plain soap at preventing infections, illness symptoms as well as reducing bacteria on the hands.”
Source of this article- ANI
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