Antibacterial soaps are no better than ordinary soaps and may even be harmful, says a group from the American Medical Association -- just two days after the World Health Organization said something similar.

The AMA's Council on Scientific Affairs said this week there is a possibility that antibacterial soaps and body washes may be part of reason why so many organisms are becoming antibiotic-resistant.

The concerns echo those expressed in a report by the WHO earlier this week. The United Nations organization reports that almost all major infectious disease are gradually learning how to fight the drugs used against them. WHO says antibacterial soaps are contributing to the problem.

While the AMA group is not ready to discourage the use of antibacterial products, it is strongly urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to speed up its review of the products to expedite regulation of them.

The industry says the AMA is overreacting. The Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association says the AMA's discussion is based on untested scientific theory.

"It is irresponsible for credible medical professionals to dismiss the entire category of antimicrobial products that fight disease-causing germs based on speculative scientific theories," Dr. Charles Gerba said.

"Antibacterial personal-care products provide an extra measure of protection for consumers at home and doctors and nurses in hospitals," says Ed Kavanaugh, President of CTFA. "That is why there is such a demand for these products."

But the AMA says the products don't do anything that ordinary soap and water can't do. The U.S. Center for Disease Control agrees:

"There is no evidence that the use of antibacterial products prevents infection better than ordinary soap. Hand washing with ordinary soap and water is sufficient to reduce the risk of most common infections," their Web site reads.

The most important factor affecting how well a soap works lies not in its ingredients but in how a user washes. Doctors preparing for surgery are required to scrub their hands for two to three minutes, but most people wash for only about 10 seconds, not long enough to kill many bacteria.