Antibacterial Soaps May Do More Harm than Good

Sunday, September 5th, 2010

Expensive and heavily advertised antibacterial soaps do a good job of getting microscopic bugs off your hands ‑‑ but they don't appear to be any better than regular soap, researchers reported.
In reporting a study funded by the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Nursing Research, Dr. Larson said 222 caretakers in New York City households were recruited to wash their hands with soap – but weren't told if the soap was plain or an antibacterial product. The researchers examined the hands of the workers at the beginning of the study and one year later after using the soap products.
In a presentation at the 40th annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, Dr. Larson said there was fewer bacteria on the hands of the caregivers at the end of the study ‑‑ but no difference in the amount of bacteria for those using plain or antibacterial soaps.
In addition to not being more effective than ordinary soap and water, scientists are also concerned that antibacterial soaps could create hardier surviving bacteria ‑‑ bacteria that would be resistant to medications.
Dr. Gilbert, professor of medicine at Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, said that another problem might be development of skin reactions to antibacterials. "Anytime you put a biologically active agent ingredient you don't need in something like soap you increase that risk," he said. He said that possibility has not been well studied.