Antibacterial Soap Essay

During the H1N1 pandemic occurred in the early 2000s, the government and health organizations have advocated in raising the awareness of maintaining cleanliness and hygiene to the public. Antibacterial products were introduced to prevent infection towards illnesses to kill and prevent the invasion and spread of bacteria. According to the FDA, antibacterial soap is a product that contains chemicals which help in killing bacteria (“Antibacterial Soap? You Can Skip It…”, n.d.). Healthcare companies heavily advertised these antibacterial soaps for their bacteria prevention benefits, convincing the public of its effective use. However, recent studies have raised suspicion among the public – casting doubts on its healthy claims. In December 2016,

281, 2001). 75% of antibacterial soaps use a well-known substance as the main antibacterial agent in their products called triclosan (TCS) (Perencevich, Wong & Harris, p. 282, 2001). TCS is a substance that acts as the main antibacterial agent in soaps by blocking enzymatic activity of bacteria, thus slows down the growth of the bacterium population (Yee & Gilbert, 2016). Due to such capabilities, TCS is used in antibacterial soaps to kill and slow down the growth of bacteria, to act as an antifungal agent and, in some products, to preserve items from the invasion of

Due to its effectiveness, professionals in the clinical field have put trust in TCS in antibacterial soaps to fend off microbes from spreading among patients in clinical workers. A study by Jones, Jampani and Lee (2000), shows that the transmission of nosocomial pathogens – pathogens that are easily spread in clinical environment – could be reduced and controlled thanks to the existence of TCS in antibacterial soaps (p. 190). Its efficiency in reducing pathogens spreading via human contact has been well known in healthcare settings, making it less likely to cause any harm if be used in community settings. One of the intrinsic properties of TCS is its inhibitory effect towards bacterial activity. According to McMurry et. al, TCS in antibacterial soaps has a property that inhibits the enzymatic activity of bacteria in reducing fatty acids (as cited in Glasier, p. 13, 2004). Fatty acids, based on the study, essential as building blocks and growth of the bacteria, could be inhibited by TCS. This property is significant in differentiating antibacterial soaps and conventional soaps, putting antibacterial soaps in a better position than conventional soaps as an agent for hygiene and cleanliness