How Does Anti-bacterial Soap Create Bacteria That Are Resistant ToAntibiotics?

Using anti-bacterial soaps - including liquid soaps - contributes to creating bacteria that are resistant to anti-biotics. I have heard this many years ago, and have stopped using the antibacterial soaps altogether.

How does using antibacterial soaps create germs that are resistant to antibiotics?

I just found out the answer. I read the article "The Soaps You Should Never Use - But 75% of Households Do" by Mercola.com that has the information.

1. When you wash your hands with the antibacterial soap, the antibacterial agent (usually Triclosan) goes down the drain - however the Triclosan is not strong enough to kill all the bacteria living in your drain - so the weak ones die and the stronger ones live on and become more resistant.


2. The bacteria that survives  goes into the water system, and therefore can contaminate waterways and wildlife! The bacteria that survives include strains that are resistant to antibiotics used in hospitals.  See article "Scientists Discover that Antimicrobial Wipes and Soaps may be making You and Society Sick" by Scientific American.


3. The antimicrobial Triclosan goes into the water system as well, and will also contaminate our waterways and wildlife! Triclosan has been accumulating in wildlife, such as dolphins and may disrupt their growth and development.  See article "Are Germ Killing Soaps Affecting Dolphin Development?" by Scientific American.

liquid soap

What Can We Do?

Non antibacterial regular soap and water will kill germs well enough, so that is what I use. I do also use a liquid soap that does not contain any anti-microbials - the one I usually get just says Milk and Honey.