Antibacterials - Why We Should Avoid Them

Why do we need antibacterials? For many generations we did most of our cleaning at home with plain soap and hot water, and hospitals found alcohol, chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide to be very effective in wiping out all kinds of bacteria and even some viruses.

Today, in the age of "new and improved" we have been led to believe that every cleaning product we buy should have the word "antibacterial" on it, but I'm here to tell you why using those products is not always a wise choice.

According to the ALLIANCE FOR THE PRUDENT USE OF ANTIBIOTICS, antibacterials are most commonly described as agents used to disinfect surfaces and eliminate potentially harmful bacteria.

There are basically two types of bacteria-killers classified depending upon their speed of action and residue production. One kind are those that act rapidly to destroy bacteria, but quickly disappear (by evaporation or breakdown) and leave no active residue behind (referred to as non-residue-producing). Examples of this type are alcohols, chlorine, and peroxides. Read our article on an all natural way to clean meat and produce that kills E.coli and salmonella bacteria.

Unfortunately, most of the ones used in our everyday soaps are of the second type. These are newer compounds that leave long-acting residues on the surface to be disinfected and thus have a prolonged action (referred to as residue-producing). Common examples of this group are triclosan, triclocarban, and benzalkonium chloride.

And of late, triclosan has been bonded into the surface of many different products that we come in contact with, such as plastic kitchen tools, cutting boards, highchairs, toys, bedding and other fabrics.

In the August 2002 Archives of Dermatology The American Medical Association's Council on Scientific Affairs published a report that recommended we be cautious in using these products since evidence on their efficacy was lacking and the issue of antibiotic resistance is so critical.

It should always be remembered that most bacteria are harmless and in many cases, even beneficial. Very few bacteria actually cause disease. Antibacterials are not discriminating and an all-out attack on bacteria in general is unjustified.

Constant use of disinfecting agents tends to disrupt the normal bacteria that act as barriers against invading pathogens. This may cause shifts in bacterial populations and create a "space" for disease-causing bacteria to enter and establish infection.

In addition, some scientists have gathered evidence showing that overly hygienic homes during early childhood may be linked to the appearance of allergies later in life. In this "hygiene hypothesis," allergies develop because the childhood immune system fails to mature properly due to lack of contact with immune-stimulating bacteria. This hypothesis remains controversial and requires further research for validation.

It is ironic that research has shown that regular hand soap and liquid dish soap are just as effective at killing bacteria. One of the most effective disease prevention techniques ever devised is frequent hand washing with plain soap and hot water!

For more, read the article in Scientific American's online

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article dated June 7, 2007 titled "Strange but True: Antibacterial Products May Do More Harm Than Good".

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05/18/2008

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Antibacterials in Our Soaps - Why We Should Avoid Them!