Unhygienic solution
antibacterial agents in liquid and solid soaps may create stronger bacteria instead and cause harm in the long run. This was revealed during a research survey done by Eli N Perencevich, a research fellow for infectious diseases at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, usa , and his colleagues. The team examined 395 brands of liquid soaps and 733 brands of bar soaps on display at stores in 10 states across the us . "The ingredients in the soap such as triclocarban and triclosan may encourage the growth of bacteria that are resistant to them. Therefore, they may prove to be harmful in the long run,' says Perencevich.
"There is a specific gene in Escherichia coli, a bacteria, and some other bacteria that produces an enzyme to construct the cell wall. Triclosan disrupts the enzyme so that the bacteria can't make the cell wall, and therefore, cannot replicate,' says Stuart Levy, president of the Boston-based Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics. According to Levy, if there is a mutation in this gene, it may lead to bacteria that are resistant to triclosan or other antibiotic agents. "Triclosan does not cause a mutation. But by killing normal bacteria it creates an environment where the resistant, mutated bacteria are more likely to survive,' Levy added.
"No one has ever been able to prove that using antibacterial soaps meant that anyone was better off than those using standard soap,' says Perencevich. "There has been no scientific data published to support the claim that adding these compounds to household products prevents infection. "The fear is that use of these products will result in bacteria that live longer,' claims Perencevich.
But the industry representatives contend that these fear may be misplaced. "While some studies have shown that antibacterial ingredients may promote resistant bacteria, these studies have been done under controlled laboratory conditions that do not reflect what happens to bacteria that consumers encounter in the real world,' says Jerry McEwen, vice president for science at the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association, based in Washington, usa .
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