Antibacterial soap has “disadvantages as well as being ineffective”

Why resistance to antibacterial ingredients leaves soap and water as the preferred choice

Evidence is now coming to light which shows that antibacterial soap its not only “ineffective”, but may actually present potential problems according to a recent warning on the Medical Life Sciences News website.

The benefits of antibacterial hand soaps have been “called into question” as a result of the banning of such products by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says the article.

Resistance to ingredients along the lines of triclosan and triclocarban and antimicrobial cross resistance have been “consistently demonstrated in laboratory settings”, according to the article.

Benefits of soap and water

The report quotes Dr Jeannie Yoo, medical adviser for NPS MedicineWise, who warned that attempts to create a sterile environment may actually have been counter-productive by actually increasing population of highly resistant bacteria.

Dr Yoo also draw attention to World Antibiotic Awareness Week which  aims to increase awareness of global antibiotic resistance and to encourage best practices among the general public, health workers and policy makers to avoid the further emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance.

“This Antibiotic Awareness Week, we want people to think of antibiotics as a precious resource, and to do everything they can—such as good old-fashioned hand washing with plain soap and water—to prevent infections in the first place.”

NPS MedicineWise recommends regular hand washing to stop spread of bacterial infections »


Teal Task Force mobile hand washing

Hot water hand wash hire for UK medical situations

Introducing the TEAL Hygenius MediWash

On view at a number of forthcoming exhibitions will be TEAL’s market leading portable hand wash station – the Hygienius MediWash (pictured above), which enable healthcare professionals and patients to access a high quality hot water hand wash wherever and whenever it’s needed!

The MediWash will be released for sale and hire later in 2017.

The TEAL Task Force

TEAL Task Force staff provide a rapid deployment and installation service for class-leading portable hand washing stations to medical facilities. Setup and training is provided for on-site staff as part of the service.