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Are antibacterial handwashes safe? Why soap and water may be the best option.
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The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have raised concerns over health risks of substances in antibacterial soaps and handwashes. As a result, the organisation has called for a safety review of such products. This has come about due to recent studies which have suggested that ingredients such as triclosan in liquid soaps and triclocarban in bar soaps may be contributing to the huge public health issue of bacterial resistance to antibiotics, according to a statement released on Monday by Dr Colleen Rogers, a lead FDA microbiologist. The statement also raises concerns that these ingredients may also have "unanticipated hormonal effects that are of concern" according to in vivo animal studies. Dr Rogers’s statement points out that "New data suggest that the risks associated with long-term, daily use of antibacterial soaps may outweigh the benefits." Furthermore, according to Dr Rogers, there is no current evidence to suggest that over-the-counter antibacterial soap products are any more effective at preventing illness than plain soap and water. The FDA took up the matter following a federal appeals court decision in March to approve a lawsuit by the non-profit Natural Resources Defense Council, which aimed to force the FDA to review the health impacts of triclosan.

In the light of these questions and concerns, the FDA has proposed a rule that will require manufacturers to prove that these antibacterial products are safe and more effective against infection than plain soap and water. Hitherto, laboratory tests to evaluate the effectiveness of these products have not included any test of the product on infection rates; the proposed new FDA rule would change that. It would not, however apply to the types of alcohol-based hand-sanitizers that are typically used in healthcare settings. The FDA has given manufacturers until the end of 2014 to submit the results of clinical trials on their products and they aim to have new regulations finalised in 2016. The FDA is collaborating with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which is responsible for regulation of triclosan in its other role as a pesticide, to ensure consistency across government agencies.

Meanwhile, the FDA is encouraging consumers, clinicians, environmental groups, scientists, industry representatives and others to submit their views on the proposed new rule; this comment period is available for 180 days. The FDA continues to emphasise that appropriate hand washing remains one of the most important ways to avoid becoming sick or passing on infections to others. They recommend consulting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for advice on hand washing at http://www.cdc.gov/handwashing.

Sources

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/Consumer...378393.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-25405037
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Are antibacterial handwashes safe? Why soap and water may be the best option.00