WEBBTIDE 2001-2002 @ SHORELINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Volume 37 No.17 Jun. 07 - Jun. 19, 2002 [ ARCHIVE ] [ FEEDBACK ] [ HELP ]
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Antibacterial soap: Friend or foe?

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      On a recent weekend I bought the Sunday Seattle Times and one article caught my attention: "Office germs may rival toilets'." It was about a study funded by Clorox. In the article Clorox was encouraging use of anti-bacterial products. The study revealed that the average desk has 400 times more bacteria than the average toilet seat. Researchers also tested other objects in the workplace and of them fax machines, water-fountain handles and keyboards had the highest levels of bacteria.
      What most people do not know about bacteria is that "such use (of anti-bacterial products) may be a potential source of antibiotic resistant organisms that are not killed by standard medical treatment," as stated by the AMA's Council on Scientific Affairs. The AMA also said there is not any data that proves anti-bacterial products have any infection-fighting benefit. The AMA recommended using ordinary soap and water.
      In addition to the AMA Council on Scientific Affairs, the World Health Organization reported that "almost all major infectious diseases are gradually becoming resistant to the drugs used against them." What scares me the most is that people do not know how dangerous the use of anti-bacterial products are. If certain bacteria become resistant we will have more to worry about than just a dirty desk.
      In the Clorox study, researchers gave disinfectant wipes to one group to clean their desks and other objects. The other group was used as a control group and did not clean anything. The study found that within two days, the group that used the wipes eliminated bacteria by 99.9 percent. What the article did not discuss is how much of the bacteria mutates and becomes stronger.
      This article irritated me because I am taking a biology class about epidemics and culture. I am learning about how viruses and bacteria can mutate and become more severe than the previous strain. The reason causing epidemics and pandemics is from of mutation in viruses and bacteria.
      When viruses and bacteria mutate they become resistant to drugs. The World Socialist Web Site said "at least three other bacterial species, all potentially life threatening, are now resistant to more than 100 different drugs." It was reported on this Web site that tuberculosis is on the rise again because of resistant strains, and that the multi-resistant tuberculosis was first reported in New York and Florida.
      If we're not careful other forms of bacteria and viruses will become life threatening to us. The use of household products and cleaners that are not anti-bacterial will greatly reduce the occurrence of resistant bacteria.
      When I visited CNN's Web site to obtain more information on the subject of anti-bacterial products I came across a survey. The question was, "Do you use antibacterial products at home?" Of the 2,164 people surveyed, 676 voted "yes, I think they offer more protection," 435 voted "yes, but I will stop," and 1,053 voted "no, they aren't necessary." I think that this survey is very telling because it demonstrates that many people are not educated enough on this subject.
      I think that there needs to be more warnings about the use of a lot of products. The media need to communicate to the public what the true dangers are. They need to make a big deal about the importance of this issue for people to listen. This is not a problem that will go away. If we are not careful it will come back to haunt us all.

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by Jessica Chastain

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Antibacterial soap: Friend or foe?
.	On a recent weekend I bought the Sunday Seattle Times and one article caught my attention: "Office germs may rival toilets'." It was about a study funded by Clorox. In the article Clorox was encouraging use of anti-bacterial products. The study revealed that the average desk has 400 times more bacteria than the average toilet seat. Researchers also tested other objects in the workplace and of them fax machines, water-fountain handles and keyboards had the highest levels of bacteria. What most people do not know about bacteria is that "such use (of anti-bacterial products) may be a potential source of antibiotic resistant organisms that are not killed by standard medical treatment," as stated by the AMA's Council on Scientific Affairs. The AMA also said there is not any data that proves anti-bacterial products have any infection-fighting benefit. The AMA recommended using ordinary soap and water. In addition to the AMA Council on Scientific Affairs, the World Health Organization reported that "almost all major infectious diseases are gradually becoming resistant to the drugs used against them." What scares me the most is that people do not know how dangerous the use of anti-bacterial products are. If certain bacteria become resistant we will have more to worry about than just a dirty desk. In the Clorox study, researchers gave disinfectant wipes to one group to clean their desks and other objects. The other group was used as a control group and did not clean anything. The study found that within two days, the group that used the wipes eliminated bacteria by 99.9 percent. What the article did not discuss is how much of the bacteria mutates and becomes stronger. This article irritated me because I am taking a biology class about epidemics and culture. I am learning about how viruses and bacteria can mutate and become more severe than the previous strain. The reason causing epidemics and pandemics is from of mutation in viruses and bacteria. When viruses and bacteria mutate they become resistant to drugs. The World Socialist Web Site said "at least three other bacterial species, all potentially life threatening, are now resistant to more than 100 different drugs." It was reported on this Web site that tuberculosis is on the rise again because of resistant strains, and that the multi-resistant tuberculosis was first reported in New York and Florida. If we're not careful other forms of bacteria and viruses will become life threatening to us. The use of household products and cleaners that are not anti-bacterial will greatly reduce the occurrence of resistant bacteria. When I visited CNN's Web site to obtain more information on the subject of anti-bacterial products I came across a survey. The question was, "Do you use antibacterial products at home?" Of the 2,164 people surveyed, 676 voted "yes, I think they offer more protection," 435 voted "yes, but I will stop," and 1,053 voted "no, they aren't necessary." I think that this survey is very telling because it demonstrates that many people are not educated enough on this subject. I think that there needs to be more warnings about the use of a lot of products. The media need to communicate to the public what the true dangers are. They need to make a big deal about the importance of this issue for people to listen. This is not a problem that will go away. If we are not careful it will come back to haunt us all.	.
by Jessica Chastain