Anti-Bacterial Soap No Better Than Plain Soap

eldavojohn writes to advise us to stop buying antibacterial soap, as it's no more effective than the regular stuff. And, using it introduces a risk of mutation of bacteria. From the article: "The team looked at 27 studies conducted between 1980 and 2006, and found that soaps containing triclosan within the range of concentrations commonly used in the community setting (0.1 to 0.45 percent wt./vol.) were no more effective than plain soaps. Triclosan is used in higher concentrations in hospitals and other clinical settings, and may be more effective at reducing illness and bacteria. Triclosan works by targeting a biochemical pathway in the bacteria that allows the bacteria to keep its cell wall intact. Because of the way triclosan kills the bacteria, mutations can happen at the targeted site... a mutation could mean that the triclosan can no longer get to the target site to kill the bacteria because the bacteria and the pathway have changed form."

news for nerds?

[Gabest]

what is a soap?

Re:news for nerds?

[Anonymous Coward]

what is a soap?

Something you should use if you ever meet a girl.

Say what..?

[djupedal]

Tric...losan [trik-lowsun] - fooled 'ya! Only kidding! This stuff is no better than spit and sand, sorry chump!!

Re:But

[Anonymous Coward]

But "IF I DID" murder my wife, and I am not saying I did, for nagging me about being online all day, which would be best to clean my hands so the CSI people can't catch me ?

Re:news for nerds?

[middlemen]

what is a soap?

Something that you bend over to pick up when you are in prison.

Re:new subject line..

[Himring]

Both hurt if they get in your peepee.

Don't try to fight it...

[infestedsenses]

I, for one, welcome our new mutant bacteria soap overlords.

Re:news for nerds?

[evil agent]

what is a soap?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SOAP [wikipedia.org]

Anybody have experience setting this up to protect machines against bacterial infections?

Soap is for pussies

[Anonymous Coward]

If you really want to rid your hands of germs, use 200 proof ethanol.

Re:But

[ItsLenny]

I recommend a strong bleach solution ...not so strong that it hurts but as strong as you can toler.... oh a what?... a joke.. oh.. yea of course.

Alcohol Based...

[camperdave]

just use the alcohol based ones. No mutations!

Not only that, but when you're camping, the sanitizer gel makes for a good fire starting paste.

Re:I've Been Saying This for Years

[eebra82]

"I've been saying for years that plain soap is good enough"

I take it your conversations with women don't end up that well, at least for the past few years?

Re:news for nerds?

[TopShelf]

And here I thought it stood for the well-known sales technique, Seriously Overhyped Acronym Proliferation.

Re:Alcohol Based...

[jdunn14]

You can also sterilize cuts with it.... although it does burn like a hell. Yes, I've done it. Have the scars from landing in 6" of water on top of an oyster bar. Purel and electrical tape was all we had....

The problem takes care of itself

[Anonymous Coward]

So what we are saying is that eventually anti-bacterial soap will no longer kill bacteria.
If this is true... then it will no longer be anti-bacterial!
Problem solved!

Re:new subject line..

[secPM_MS]

Plain soap got commoditized and the profit margin dropped. Hence, the manufacturers went looking for some new "improvement" that they could add that would allow them to command a price premium. Of course, once they saw incremental increases in sales for the "improved" competitive product, the other manufacturers followed. Now they all have the same situation with somewhat higher costs and we are worse off -- there is massive exposure to the chemical agents and the bugs are being selected for resistance. As for me, I have taken to buying my soap from a "organic" company just to avoid all the "extras". I have no problem using synthetic agents where apporpriate, but generic use is not appropriate.

As for germ phobia, I have a short, but relevant, observation.

When you are a first-time mother of a new-born, when the pacifier hits the ground you wash it off and sterilize it before it goes into the child's mouth again.

When your newborn second child drops their pacifier onto the ground, you wipe it off and stick it back in their mouth. After all, eating dirt didn't appear to hurt #1.

When your newborn third child drops their pacifier onto the ground, "Fido, fetch". Then you wipe the worst of the dog slobber off the pacifier and stick it back into their mouth. You have observed that dog germs and dirt didn't hurt numbers 1 and 2.

Re:But

[iminplaya]

I work in computational biology

So, you're studying the germs on your keyboard? They say your toilet seat is cleaner, but I don't think I would eat off of either one of them.

Re:But

[2.7182]

Will she trade sex for Purel ? My kind of addict - ready to do anything to get her fix AND completely germ free !

Re:Alcohol Based...

[Anonymous Coward]

goddamn drunk oysters.

Re:new subject line..

[Anonymous Coward]

And when your newborn fourth child cries uncontrollably, you shake them vigorously until they stop. After all, it didn't hurt the first three kids.
 

Re:new subject line..

[Killjoy_NL]

My god you must be hung like a sperm whale *pun intended* if you can fit a soap in your wang :D

Re:Alcohol Based...

[brusk]

At least the police were able to identify the shooter.

Re:But

[leathered]

Hans, is that you?

Unless you're screaming, "It burns! It Burns!"

[Anonymous Coward]

...it probably doesn't kill everything

Re:Immune system

[feepness]

In fact, it seems that the reverse is true. As we've become more hygenic, the immune system, strong as ever, goes looking for soft targets to beat up. It becomes hypersensitive, creating conditions like allergies and athsma.

Jeez. Sounds like our government.

Re:new subject line..

[Anonymous Coward]

1) Observe the use of "quotation marks" in the above
2) Become informed on the use of "quotation marks" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quotation_mark [wikipedia.org]
3) ???
4) Profit!!!!

Re:I've Been Saying This for Years

[Scaba]

I've been saying for years that plain soap is good enough...

I'm glad to see your unwavering vision and fortitude in carrying this message, even in the face of growing adversity, has rewarded you with the sweet taste of vindication. Victory has never been so richly deserved, my friend.

Re:news for nerds?

[plague3106]

Soap is great. Why, with enough soap you can blow up just about anything.

Re:But

[llamaxing]

I beg to differ.

When you have two other room mates and the three of you are in the room, back out, 15 minutes to get ready in the morning, sweating in the California sun, and hydrating all day, then I'd eat off of my keyboard any time! If only you could see the stuff we eat -- Hot Pockets aren't the worst of it!

Re:I've Been Saying This for Years

[pete-classic]

I don't open with that.

If you consider Slashdot to be my peers I do very well, given my affinity (or even simple familiarity) with soap.

Thanks for your concern all the same.

-Peter

I prefer mud baths

[WormholeFiend]

Not only do I boost my immune system, it's also awesome for the skin!

Also, when I get out of my backyard mudhole, I look like a scary mofo, as a bonus, the 'hood kids won't hang out anywhere near my lawn...

Re:Marketing strikes again

[felipekk]

You`re talking about Microsoft Windows?

Re:Wash your hands after you use the bathroom

[danlock4]

[...]and then shovel their food down their gluttonous mouths with THOSE DIRTY HANDS!!

I always use a utensil such as a fork or spoon.

Do you use just your hands? In that case, I say that washing your hands frequently is even more important!

Re:Bacteria cannot develop resistance to alcohol..

[The One and Only]

Thanks for telling me that. I have a lot of bacteria in my mouth and throat I need to take care of all of a sudden. And maybe some more down in my stomach. Now, is beer or wine sufficient or will I get the best effects from scotch?