Antimicrobial household and personal care products and Sanitisers etc. mostly get discharged untreated into the environment after its’ use. The chemicals, namely triclosan, triclocarban etc. in such antimicrobial / antiseptic products are very much likely to inhibit bacterial growth and also to disinfect or kill bacteria. But studies have even reported that certain bacteria, such as E coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella enteric etc. when exposed to high concentration of such chemicals may develop resistance towards antibiotics. So the level efficacy of such Antimicrobial products in comparison to the regular soap, used for this purpose, might need serious analysis, keeping in view of environmental upkeep.
I quote from Aiello et al., 2007, Consumer Antibacterial Soaps: Effective or Just Risky? The full paper can be found here:
http://www.tufts.edu/med/apua/practitioners/infection_control_11_3141468025.pdf
"Soaps containing triclosan within the range of concentrations commonly used in the community setting (0.1%–0.45% wt/vol) were no more effective than plain soap at preventing infectious illness symptoms and reducing bacterial levels on the hands"
I would argue the case is closed, it's HOW you wash your hands, NOT what soap you use. Wet your hands, apply soap and rub for 20-30 seconds, no less. I did not time but I will bet most people don't rub that long.
I think that this depends on the kind of antimicrobial and the limits of use
Removal of microbes from hand during handwash is largely a mechanical process. A soap containing antimicrobial agents is not likely to offer any great advantage, unless and until it is allowed to be in contact of the skin for few minutes. Usually most people complete their handwash process in less than 100 seconds or so. Very few antimicrobials can act so fast. The mechanical removal of hand flora by rubbing of hands together, and by their trapping inside the foam, will happen with all soaps, whether containing antimicrobials or not.
The good idea is to abandon use of antimicrobial agents in handwashes. Doing so will be helpful in minimizing the unnecessary exposure of microbes to such agents (which finally results in drug-resistance). In clinical set-ups where effective hand cleaning is required, hand sanitizers (e.g. those based on alcohol) can be used.
A quote - "
Although many people have never heard of triclosan, most of us have it in our bodies. Triclosan is an antimicrobial chemical that was added to consumer products, including soaps and toothpaste, several decades ago and marketed as a benefit for users because it could kill bacteria. It was a successful advertising tool, and has been used by so many personal-care-product companies that for a time, it
However, researchers have found that our bodies absorb this chemical. It shows up even in the breast milk of nursing mothers. Triclosan and its derivatives have also been found downstream from wastewater treatment plants."
-http://www.minnpost.com/community-voices/2014/06/minnesota-ban-triclosan-may-have-broader-impact
Dear All,
Antimicrobial household and personal care products mostly depend on two chemicals—triclosan and triclocarban. After use of the products, the chemicals are washed down the drain. Even after treatment, 50 to 70 per cent of the compounds remain and get discharged through treated effluent, which is sufficient to contaminate the environment because the compounds persist for long. One recent study of US sewage sludge showed triclocarban and triclosan to account for over 60 per cent of the total mass of pharmaceutical and personal care products detected in the sludge.
Traces of triclosan and its transformation product, methyl-triclosan, have been detected in worms, snails, fish and dolphins etc.. Milk of European and US women also contains detectable quantities of triclosan, presumably due to use of antimicrobial personal care products.
Triclosan, when used in low concentration, inhibits bacterial growth and disinfects or kills bacteria when used in high concentration. But studies have shown certain bacteria, such as E coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella enterica, when exposed to sub-lethal concentration of triclosan, develop resistance towards important antibiotics.
A panel convened by the US Food and Drug Administration has already concluded that there is no proven benefit of the use of antimicrobial detergent. The compounds play an important role in clinical settings. But when used in households, for instance, washing hands with antimicrobial soap, we expose germs to the chemicals just for a few seconds. This does not provide the sought after benefit. In fact, antimicrobial soap offers no proven benefit over regular soap.
Thanking All.
Regards.
Nripendra Kumar Sarma
Nagaon, Assam, India
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