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Germs, Germs, Everywhere!

© Janine Fowlds

Every year, Americans spend billions of dollars on preventative healthcare. The list seems endless to include alternative medicinal practices, nutritional supplements, and anti-germicidal products. Many aspects of preventative healthcare are very well established, but one group gaining notoriety, today, are the antibacterial agents. Among those various products are the antibacterial or anti-microbial soaps for personal hygiene. Do they really work? Are we getting our money's worth? To answer the first question, yes it does work for minimizing bacterial count. They also have a better cleansing effect on superficial wounds, but that's about it. Most germs are spread from person to person and they have a very short lifespan outside of the body, leaving them dead or compromised by the time you get to the soap. Normally, washing with regular soap will do the job. What does antibacterial soap do for the other multitude of viruses and fungi? Nothing more than regular soap would do.

So what's the problem? Consumers are led to believe that antibacterial soap is much more effective than regular soap, but the manufacturers don't give the consumers any foundation for their claims. Some state that antibacterial soap will keep treated surfaces cleaner longer. But where is the scientific proof? Not only are the labels misleading, but antibacterial soap is also more expensive. Hospitals use antibacterial soap since they are required to keep up the highest quality of safety. But in the home, nothing can replace regular washings.

Currently, overuse of antibacterial soap is worrying the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They are concerned about the development of mutated bacteria that will become resistant to anti-microbial products. Right now, the most common chemical used in these agents is Triclosan, which was found to kill only a percentage of bacteria. The germs that survive are feared to evolve and to recognize the chemical as part of their own genetic make-up. Their recognition is what causes their resistance. Government scientists are recommending that consumers use plain old soap and to refrain from using products containing Triclosan. Agents with Triclosan are unnecessary unless the consumer has a compromised immune system.

The best way to avoid being invaded by germs is by maintaining proper hygiene, which means WASH YOUR HANDS. To wash effectively with regular soap, lather and rub your hands vigorously together for 10 - 20 seconds. Then rinse with water and dry with paper towels. If you use a cloth towel to dry, change it daily. Bacteria like to hide in places like wet towels and sponges. They love to breed on cutting boards, too. It's recommended that use of plastic cutting boards are better since they wash off cleaner than wood boards, but regardless, be sure to wash your cutting boards extremely well. There's no need to be afraid of all bacteria. Just wash, wash, wash, and plain old-fashioned soap will do the job just fine.

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