Study finds no link between use of antibacterial soap and antibiotic resistance

Published: 7-Oct-2011

Triclosan and triclocarban safe to use in soaps


New research has reaffirmed that the use of antibacterial soap in the home does not contribute to antibiotic or antibacterial resistance. The study, published in the International Journal of Microbiology Research, conducted by Dr Eugene Cole and supported by the American Cleaning Institute and the Personal Care Products Council, compared the use of over-the-counter antibacterial liquid hand and body cleansers and antibacterial bar soaps (containing triclosan and triclocarban) against the use of non-antibacterial cleansers.

A total of 210 study participants were randomly selected from a group of 450 individuals, with 70 individuals making up each group: those frequently using triclosan containing liquid bath and shower products; those frequently using bar soaps containing triclocarban; and a control group who did not use any antibacterial wash at all. Samples of Staphylococcus bacteria were collected from the participants’ forearms using swabs, which were then tested against several different types of antibiotics commonly used to treat Staph infections. The results showed that there was no increase in the antibiotic resistance of the Staph strains isolated from either group that had been using antibacterial wash products compared to those iosolates obtained from the control group. Furthermore, those bacteria showed no increased resistance to triclosan or triclocarban.

The ACI’s director of human health and safety, Dr Francis Kruszewski, commented: “After decades of use, antibacterial wash products continue to play a beneficial role in everyday hygiene routines for millions of people around the world.”

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