I am not a clinician, but I am an avid observer of things health-related.
While it isn’t really federal jurisdiction, it is solely the ignorant who insist on antibacterial soaps.
While there is little to no evidence that antibacterial soaps have any positive effect in non-clinical settings, there *IS* a lot of evidence that the improper use of these products is contributing to the emergence of so called “super bugs”:
bacteria that have become resistant to the agents used in these soaps.
By removing these products from the general public’s access, the people who actually NEED them can continue to use them, while those who only buy them “as a precaution” won’t be able to dilute/nullify the benefits.
It’s like folks who insist on antibiotic medications when they get a cold: it hardens the bacteria in their bodies while having no effect on the virus. This makes the antibiotic less effective for all who inadvertently are exposed to those same hardened bacteria later on.
*IF* the public were better informed by the responsible parties, then there wouldn’t be any call for the above actions, as a well-informed populace would shun these products for their own good. Unfortunately, the powers-that-be have been quite successful in dumbing down the people, and the manufacturers are more than happy to profit from the public’s lack of knowledge.
What you say makes total sense. Kind of what should have happened to tobacco.
I just DESPISE federal intervention.... for every ONE thing it might do “right”, there are SCORES of unjustified actions. Better to let the market work.
A sort of "survival of the fittest" at the microbial level, where only or largely the resistant types live on to pass their genes to the next generation.
It’s like folks who insist on antibiotic medications when they get a cold: it hardens the bacteria in their bodies while having no effect on the virus. This makes the antibiotic less effective for all who inadvertently are exposed to those same hardened bacteria later on.
Another excellent point. Bacteria and viruses are two completely different beasts.
*IF* the public were better informed by the responsible parties, then there wouldn’t be any call for the above actions, as a well-informed populace would shun these products for their own good. Unfortunately, the powers-that-be have been quite successful in dumbing down the people, and the manufacturers are more than happy to profit from the public’s lack of knowledge.
I find it incredible that in this information age we're living in, we actually seem to be getting dumber as a people.
Your analysis is correct. Regular soap is fine for washing our hands - it is a surfactant that reduces surface tension, allowing water to rinse away dirt (and, this, germs). What is left can AND SHOULD, be dealt with by our immune system. This benefits us in 2 ways: first, it strengthens our immune systems; second, it doesn’t strengthen the resistor bacteria.
This is long overdue. Regarding “government interference,” it is well within the FDA’s mandate to stop misleading advertising related to health matters. Frankly, I wonder what took them so long.
I’ve told all my kids that I wouldn’t advise them to use antibacterial soaps and wipes on the grandkids as it would build up a resistance to antibiotics if they ever really need it.
I agree. Millions of years of evolution have set the biological rules and balance in the natural world.
Man, as clever as his big brain has made him, shouldn’t presume to know more than God, or think that he has it wihin his technologic purview to outsmart biology. In the long run, nature always wins.
Totally agree with your response FWIW.
IIRC during the end of the last century anti-bacterials were infused in some plastics. Mostly these ended up being used in children’s toys...very young children’s toys. As these kids grew up, pacifiers, teething rings etc. were simply thrown away. Now, we’ve all been told that plastics in landfills are *forever*. Given this, it seems that our landfills have been turned into petri dishes for the formation of new and improved super bugs and that this evolution of resistant bacteria will continue *forever*.