Antibacterial Soaps Fail to Beat Plain Soap
Antibacterial Soaps Fail to Beat Plain Soap
Short exposure to specific germ-killing ingredients doesn't get hands cleaner, study says
To see if triclosan made a difference in controlling bacteria in the current study, investigators placed 20 strains of bacteria into laboratory test tubes. They exposed the test tubes to both plain soap and soap containing 0.3 percent triclosan. The tubes were preheated to mimic typical hand-washing temperatures, the study said.
When bacteria were continuously exposed to triclosan for very long periods of time -- nine hours or more -- the antiseptic demonstrated "significantly" stronger antibacterial properties, the researchers said.
However, lab exposure to just 10, 20 or 30 seconds of triclosan soap translated into no more antibacterial benefit than similar exposures to plain soap, the study revealed.
A follow-up test involving 16 healthy adults confirmed these findings. All participants first had their hands exposed to bacteria. They then washed their hands and lower forearms in warm water for 30 seconds with either plain soap or 0.3 percent triclosan soap, the study said.
The result: While both soaps were largely effective at eliminating bacteria, the difference between the two soaps was "non-significant."
Still, Rhee stressed that this result is not the final word on all antibacterial soap products.
"Our study [only] means that the triclosan in soap does not always guarantee higher antimicrobial efficacy during hand-washing."
Brian Sansoni, a spokesman for the American Cleaning Institute in Washington, D.C., said his organization believes that "antibacterial soaps and washes remain a part of effective daily hygiene routines for millions of people who want the extra germ-killing benefit that these products offer. They have a long track record of safety and effectiveness, backed by decades of scientific data and research."
Dr. Leonardo Trasande, an associate professor with the departments of pediatrics, population health and environmental medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, said that "this study clearly reinforces the common sense notion that soap and water work just fine."
"The FDA has raised concerns about the safety of triclosan, and this study shows it may not provide any benefit anyway," he said. "So, I would say that in most cases plain soap does the trick. Which is what moms have been saying since the 1930s and '40s. Turns out they were right."
Antibacterial Soaps Fail to Beat Plain Soap
Short exposure to specific germ-killing ingredients doesn't get hands cleaner, study says
To see if triclosan made a difference in controlling bacteria in the current study, investigators placed 20 strains of bacteria into laboratory test tubes. They exposed the test tubes to both plain soap and soap containing 0.3 percent triclosan. The tubes were preheated to mimic typical hand-washing temperatures, the study said.
When bacteria were continuously exposed to triclosan for very long periods of time -- nine hours or more -- the antiseptic demonstrated "significantly" stronger antibacterial properties, the researchers said.
However, lab exposure to just 10, 20 or 30 seconds of triclosan soap translated into no more antibacterial benefit than similar exposures to plain soap, the study revealed.
A follow-up test involving 16 healthy adults confirmed these findings. All participants first had their hands exposed to bacteria. They then washed their hands and lower forearms in warm water for 30 seconds with either plain soap or 0.3 percent triclosan soap, the study said.
The result: While both soaps were largely effective at eliminating bacteria, the difference between the two soaps was "non-significant."
Still, Rhee stressed that this result is not the final word on all antibacterial soap products.
"Our study [only] means that the triclosan in soap does not always guarantee higher antimicrobial efficacy during hand-washing."
Brian Sansoni, a spokesman for the American Cleaning Institute in Washington, D.C., said his organization believes that "antibacterial soaps and washes remain a part of effective daily hygiene routines for millions of people who want the extra germ-killing benefit that these products offer. They have a long track record of safety and effectiveness, backed by decades of scientific data and research."
Dr. Leonardo Trasande, an associate professor with the departments of pediatrics, population health and environmental medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, said that "this study clearly reinforces the common sense notion that soap and water work just fine."
"The FDA has raised concerns about the safety of triclosan, and this study shows it may not provide any benefit anyway," he said. "So, I would say that in most cases plain soap does the trick. Which is what moms have been saying since the 1930s and '40s. Turns out they were right."