Antibacterial Soaps May Not Be Effective As Bacteria Becomes Resistant To It

A microbiology expert has warned that soon antibacterial soaps will become ineffective because bacteria is already becoming resistant to the chemicals in it.

Liz Harry from the University of Technology in Sydney said that antibacterial soaps promote ‘superbugs’ and has called for Australian authorities to follow the US and ban ineffective and dangerous ingredients found in them.

Speaking with the ABC, Ms Harry explained how bacteria acts and develops resistance.

“An antibiotic, a drug that you take for infection is the same type of entity that’s in antibacterial soap. They’re just different types of chemicals. But they’re all called antibacterials,”

“Bacterial DNA can encode resistance. On these same pieces of DNA is resistance to things like penicillin and your basic antibiotics “¦ So that whole piece of DNA goes from one bacteria to millions of others on the bathroom floor.

“Then they’re all resistant, not just to the antibacterial in your wash, but also an antibiotic. That’s where you have a problem.

“There will come a time when antibiotics won’t work. They’re already not working for some diseases. And we don’t have anything else in the pipeline,” she said.

The US has already banned 19 ingredients commonly found in antibacterial soaps, including triclosan and triclocarban which is also present in products sold in Australia, where at present, the said chemicals are not banned.

However, in banning the chemicals, the US Food and Drug Administration noted that there was no evidence that showed them to be anymore effective than standard soap and water.

Anthony Komaroff, Editor in Chief of the Harvard Health Letter said, “There is no evidence that the added chemicals reduce your risk of infection or other illness. And there is evidence that some of the added chemicals may interfere with the proper functioning of your endocrine system,” he said.

This means that using antibacterial soaps may have ongoing negative effects on one’s health and can upset the body’s hormones and have been shown to potentially cause cancer in mice.

The ABC confirmed that four manufacturers selling antibacterial soap in the Australian market have committed to eliminate triclosan and triclocarban in the next 12 months in their products, including Woolworth, Aldi, Colgate-Palmolive and the manufacturers of Dettol products.

However, the best way to promote good health and hygiene is still by regularly washing your hands with soap and water.

Source: Kidspot.com.au