More and more bacteria are becoming impervious not only to antibiotics, but to the vast array of germ-killing soaps and cleaners that have flooded the market, health experts say.
According to an article from The New York Times published in the San Francisco Chronicle, using the products may be adding to the problem of bacterial infection, rather than combating it. The products include soaps, sprays, dishwashing detergents, lotions, Band-Aids, toothbrushes and toothpaste. The article says there are even chopsticks made to fend off bacteria.
The irony is that the worst forms of bacteria are found in hospitals, not at home. And the biggest problems at home -- including colds, the flu and other illnesses -- are primarily caused by viruses.
The enthusiasm for all things antibacterial comes from a misguided desire for purity and cleanliness, health experts say. And the United States is not alone. The English and Italians are obsessed with antibacterial products as well. But, the article says, some of the most creative products are from Japan. Phones, pens, origami paper, bicycle handles and even tambourines are subjected to the antibacterial assault, the article says.
The concern about germs stems from more than 100 years of emphasis on the relationship between cleanliness and health. Hand-washing, keeping food clean and separating sick people from the healthy are all cornerstones of this effort. And those, of course, have been tremendously successful in stemming the spread of disease.
Even the antibacterial movement has its roots in turn-of-the-century science and advertising. But the last decade has seen a rapid growth of such products, from just a few in the mid-1990s to more than 700 being marketed and sold today.
The best strategy for staving off disease? Wash your hands. Do this whenever you use the bathroom, before and after eating and any other time you think you might need it.
The funny thing is that most people don't. While they'll spend money on antibacterial products, just slightly more than 50 percent of people washed their hands after visiting a restroom, studies have shown.