Antibacterial soap no more effective than plain soap at reducing bacterial contamination

And antibacterial soap encourages the development of bacteria resistant to antibiotics.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-09/oup-asn091415.php

Public Release: 16-Sep-2015
Antibacterial soap no more effective than plain soap at reducing bacterial contamination
Oxford University Press

Scientists in Korea have discovered that using antibacterial soap when hand-washing is no more effective than using plain soap, according to a paper published today in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.

The study examined the effect of triclosan (the most commonly used active antiseptic ingredient used in soap) on bacteria in two ways. The first was to examine the bactericidal effects of triclosan in soaps against all 20 strains, and the second compared the ability of antibacterial and non-antibacterial soap to remove bacteria from human hands, by using 16 healthy adult volunteers. The results of the study indicate that there is no significant difference between the effects of plain soap and antibacterial soap when used under 'real life' conditions.

•••••