# Antibacterial soap and you (or me) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 24, 2006, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibacterial-soap-and-you-or-me/373918 "2006-09-24T04:24:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![plechazunga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@plechazunga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plechazunga)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2006, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibacterial-soap-and-you-or-me/373918/1 "2006-09-24T04:24:25Z")
If I were to use antibacterial soap – which I typically avoid like the plague (sorry) – how much would I be contributing to superbugs? Would I be making myself more prone to infections? I’ve read in Forbes that hospitals are the biggest source of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, but also that these superbugs are also appearing outside of the hospital. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2006, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibacterial-soap-and-you-or-me/373918/2 "2006-09-24T10:17:37Z")
This is a WAG (I’m really posting because this is a question I wanted to ask). Superbugs are resistant to antibiotics, which interfere with bacteria’s metabolism in some way. Preventing them from reproducing or growing normally, probably by messing with their protein production. Antibacterial soaps (and the alcohol based gels they have all over hospitals here) just plain destroy the bacteria, I guess by desolving their membranes or poisoning them outright with chlorine or something. The chemicals used to do that are not ones you would want in an IV drip, at least not if you didn’t want your blood to leak out through your skin. Bacteria can evolve a resistance to the subtle antibiotic attack, they can’t evolve resistance to the equivalent being drenched in battery acid – at least not the ones that are dangerous to us, there might well be bugs that thrive on battery acid they’re pretty adaptable. Awaiting a properly informed answer. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2006, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibacterial-soap-and-you-or-me/373918/3 "2006-09-24T12:24:08Z")
Ok,First of all, bacteria don’t change because of antibiotics. There are just always a few that are naturally immune. When antibiotics are (over) used, these few, are left behind to reproduce. Thus, eventually, the resistant bacteria become the majority population. Not finishing a round of antibiotics can cause this type of growth. So you take the medicine until you feel better then stop. Two days later, you’re sick again, but the antibiotics don’t work as well. What happens in [nosocomial](http://www.mansfield.ohio-state.edu/~sabedon/biol2053.htm) infections (means hospital aquired) the bacteria are brought in by sick people, transferred to healthy hospital workers, surfaces and equipment. Healthy people are less suseptible, so don’t get sick, but carry them around, spreading them to other people, both healthy and ill. I’m not sure how clear this is, I’m pretty sleepy still. Someone more coherent should be along soon… ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2006, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibacterial-soap-and-you-or-me/373918/4 "2006-09-24T12:32:39Z")
Oh, sorry, I forgot to adress how antibacterial products work. Alcohol is a drying agent. It crenates, or dries up the bacteria. Iodine based antibacterials break down the cell membrane. Some antibiotics work by breaking down cell membranes, others interfer with cell metabolism. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2006, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibacterial-soap-and-you-or-me/373918/5 "2006-09-24T13:44:16Z")
One common ingredient in antimicrobial products that is starting to raise concerns is triclosan. > [@](#): > > Resistance Concerns. A number of recent studies have > raised serious concerns that triclosan and other similar > products may promote the emergence of bacteria resistant > to antibiotics.39 One concern is that bacteria will become resistant > to antibacterial products like triclosan, rendering the > products useless to those who actually need them, such as > people with compromised immune systems. Scientists also > worry that because triclosan’s mode of action and target site > in the bacteria is similar to antibiotics, bacteria that become > resistant to triclosan will also become resistant to antibiotics. from the PDF [The Ubiquitous Triclosan](http://www.beyondpesticides.org/pesticides/factsheets/Triclosan%20cited.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![plechazunga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@plechazunga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plechazunga)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2006, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibacterial-soap-and-you-or-me/373918/6 "2006-09-26T03:26:18Z")
Thanks for the responses, but as to my original question (which I’ll rephrase): am I being a hypochondriac by not using antibacterial soap? Is the worst thing that could happen to me personally is throwing money away buying these more expensive soaps?