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Ditch the antibacterial products: Canadian Paediatric Society
March 17, 2006
Washing your hands with
good old soap and water is your best bet
for fighting germs, according to the Canadian
Paediatric Society.
A roster of antibacterial
products has gained popularity among consumers
of late, including hand soaps, cleaners,
dish soaps and tissues. But most are unnecessary – and
using them excessively could actually do
more harm than good, according to a new position
paper from the CPS.
The concern is that use of the products
(which kill 99.9 per cent of germs) allows
bacteria to become resistant to antibiotic
treatments used in hospitals, and decreases
the user's natural resistance to germ-borne
illnesses.
The society's stance mirrors that announced
by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Last
fall, the
FDA warned that consumers may be flushing
their money down the drain when they buy antibacterial
soap, citing studies that have found no significant
difference in infections in households using
antibacterial products, and those with regular
(and usually cheaper) soap and water.
via: Ottawa Sun
related Marketplace stories: Six
steps of proper handwashing
related Marketplace murmurs: Antibacterial soap no better than regular soap and water: FDA
murmur categories: health,
kids
tags:
consumers consumer news consumerism soap antibacterial health research
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