Know the dangers of using antibacterial soaps

Aren’t soaps that kill bacteria good for us?

Before buying antibacterial soap, you should know your soap may do more harm than good, says Peggy Edwards, chair of the department of clinical laboratory science at Saint Louis University’s Doisy School of Allied Health Professions.

It’s a common misconception, according to Edwards, that antibacterial products are effective in preventing illnesses. And now comes the question of whether overuse of antibacterial products might make bacteria resistant to antibiotics.

Today, more than 45 percent of soaps contain antibacterial ingredients. And the options do not stop there. Cleaning products, laundry detergents, trash bags and sponges are among the growing list of consumer antibacterial options.

Edwards gives five reasons why consumers should avoid antibacterial products:

1. Antibacterial products will not keep you healthier. “Antibacterial products are only effective in killing bacteria,” Edwards says. “They do not prevent the spread of viral infections, which are responsible for a large percentage of contagious diseases such as the flu and colds.”
2. Antibacterial products could make bacteria resistant to antibiotic medication. Unlike therapeutic antibiotics, household antibacterial products are used in low and unpredictable concentrations. When bacteria are exposed to low and infrequent dosages of antibacterial ingredients, they are more likely to form a resistance to the antibiotics, including the therapeutic antibiotics used to prevent the spread of infections and treat bacterial infections, Edwards says.
3. Antibacterial products go somewhere after we wash them down the drain. These chemicals are found in wastewater and ultimately in the environment. The effects on the environment have yet to be determined.
4. Antibacterial soaps give us a false sense of security. “You may think that by using antibacterial soap you can eliminate bacteria, but that simply is not the case,” Edwards says. “Bacteria are everywhere, and most bacteria are not harmful.” Good hand washing is still highly effective in removing bacteria, she says.
5. Waterless sanitizers may be particularly dangerous. Alcohol is the ingredient used in waterless sanitizers. Because alcohol can start on fire, it might not be best for unsupervised use by young children.