Antibacterial Soap Essay

Rubbing alcohol, also known as isopropyl alcohol “refers to two water-soluble chemical compounds—ethyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol—that have generally underrated germicidal characteristics” (“Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities”). Ethyl alcohol kills bacteria in two ways: “protein denaturation and dissolving the lipid membrane” (“How Does Ethyl Alcohol Kill Bacteria?“). Next, Betadine, also known as Povidone-iodine is a solution [that is] often used in hand scrubs and hand rubs in hospital settings” (Ngan). It is used in “Treating minor wounds and infections, as well as killing bacteria” (“Povidone/ iodine solution”). Povidone-iodine’s way of killing bacteria is still being researched and “is yet to be fully understood, [but] it appears to have the ability to penetrate the cell wall of bacteria and affect their structure and function. This ensures their rapid destruction and helps protect against wound and skin infection” (“What is an Antiseptic”). Germ-X Hand Sanitizer is a hand gel that is used for waterless “washing” of hands to kill germs on the surface. It is an antiseptic primarily used by those who want to kill germs quickly and cannot wash their hands (Samuels). The formula contains about 63 percent ethyl alcohol according to livestrong.com (Samuels). Neosporin is a topical antibiotic used to

While I’m working at the nursing home I always carry hand sanitizer in my scrub pocket. Since it is so easy for certified nursing assistants to transfer germs from one resident to another hand sanitizer is a good thing to keep close by until we have time to wash our hands at a sink. It is surprising how much sanitizer can used over a 8-hour or 12-hour shift. Besides using hand sanitizer, I also wash many hands many times throughout the shift. Hand sanitizer, water, and soap are all made up of different compounds, but they share a similar quality of cleansing something to remove

Modern-day advances have allowed scientists to develop methods to control pathogens. The more common methods include the use of antiseptics, antibiotics, and vaccines. By definition, antiseptics are chemicals used to kill pathogens. A few widespread antiseptics include soap, vinegar, and rubbing alcohol. Antiseptics are primarily used for the external destruction of pathogens, while antibiotics and vaccines target internal pathogens. Nevertheless, there are and can be difficulties concerning the use of antibiotics. “As antibiotic use has become more common, antibiotic-resistant bacteria have evolved.” This resistance due to evolution is called antibiotic resistance. It results in the antibiotics having no effect whatsoever on the bacteria, rendering the antibiotics useless. When antibiotic resistance occurs, scientists must resume their search to create a new medicine to can kill the mutant bacteria.

Ajax, which was thought to have killed the most E. coli, was because of its ingredient lactic acid, which was used as a natural anti-bacterial. A potential reason why the Ajax didn’t kill as much E. coli as what was predicted might have been that the amount of Ajax solution soaked up was not actually sufficient enough to cause an effect. Therefore, the results varied. The results were different and had a large gap between them causing three varied answers. Vinegar was thought to kill not as much as Ajax but as it turned out, had a larger zone of inhibition but didn’t efficiently kill or clear as much. The vinegar tried to kill more because of the high acid levels that entered the cell membrane and killed the cell. The vinegar that was used didn’t kill as many cells because the concentration was not high enough. Again, the same as the ajax, there were 3 varied answers. This is proposed to be because of different of length of time that it spent in the solution. Salty water which was presumed to kill the least was correct.

The aim of this investigation was to find out which antiseptics were most effective at preventing the growth of bacteria.

To help the prevention of infection spreading is by knowing the method of washing your hand because we carry most bacteria sue to the open air that we come in contact with. For example we use are hands to shake hands with someone holding or touching objects. When you are performing any form of hand hygiene you will need to make sure that you have washed your hand with anti-bacterial liquid soap; this is to help prevent any bacteria which we already have on our hands. In all health and social care settings an automatic liquid dispenser should be placed so that when washing hands any individual doesn’t touch or need to even sneeze any part of the liquid

Antiseptics are chemical agents that slow or stop the growth of micro-organisms (germs) on external surfaces of the body, that is why they are suitable to use on the skin as they are designed for that pacific reason to stop bacterial growth or any other microorganisms from spreading or causing infection on the skin and external surfaces on the body. Antiseptics should be distinguished from antibiotics that destroy micro-organisms inside the body, and from disinfectants, which destroy micro-organisms found on inanimate (non-living) objects. Antibiotics and disinfectant are designed for other reasons as you can see and contain some different chemical agents that maybe harsh on the human skin so that is why disinfectants and antibiotics may not be suitable on the skin. (http://dermnetnz.org/treatments/antiseptics.html)

Use liquid soap. Don’t use soap bars because it may collect germs from previous users, which can be spread to other user. Antibacterial soaps are not necessary full time.

The first things civilians can do is minimize their use of antibacterial soap. Most soaps like this advertise that it kill 99.99% of all bacteria and it does. Unfortunately it kills both good and bad bacteria, which means it leaves the .01% to continue to build it immunity against the antibiotic. Instead of using the antibacterial soaps it is better to wash ones hands with regular soap and hot water. This simply removes the bacteria from the surface of the hands instead of dowsing the bacteria with chemicals that they will eventually become immune to. Civilians may think that using regular soap will not be as effective however in the article “The Dawn of the Domestic Superbug” author Pat Thomas elaborates on a study done on the topic,” Even so, five years ago the American Medical Association (AMA) issued a startling statement saying that antibacterial soaps were no more effective against germs than common soap” (par. 5). The article later goes on to explain more recent

Over the years one of the leading causes of hospital acquired infection has been attributed to the poor hand hygiene. Whether it is due to the fact that healthcare workers are not sanitizing their hands between patients that can lead to cross contamination between patients, between staff and patients, or even staff to staff. Since a majority of hospital associated infections such Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) as are transmitted via contact and can remain on surfaces for up to thirty of more days it is very easy to transmit between patients with ineffective hand hygiene. There should be accessibility to both hand sanitizers as well as handwashing areas which would make it easy for staff, patients, and visitors to follow hand washing protocols. Studies done over the past on health care workers in reference to proper hand hygiene has shown that there is still an at least a fifty percent times in which proper hand hygiene is not performed (Ara, et al., 2016). On a daily basis a health care worker comes into contact of different microbes which are easily transmitted and according to the CDC not following the proper hand hygiene along with adequate solvent is reportedly the number one factor that contributes to HAI’s (CDC, 2015). Healthcare facilities are currently making handwashing more accessible by providing alcohol based hand sanitizers outside of patient’s rooms which are more visible to visitors and staff. Studies have shown several factors that contribute to the lack of proper hand hygiene, knowledge of the spread of infection via contact with contaminated hands, the importance of having solvents such as hand sanitizers being accessible and antibacterial soap, the understanding of the proper method involved in hand washing, understaffing is also a

As a writer for The Globe and Mail, Jennifer Yang, stated, “Anti-bacterial products containing anti-microbial agents are being increasingly marketed to Canadians for personal and household use despite a lack of evidence for additional benefit and serious concerns about the potential for increased bacterial resistance.” The concern she is talking about is centred in the use of the products such as disinfectant sprays, of which can kill 99.9% of bacteria on a given surface. The 0.1% that is left remaining is the mutated antibiotic-resistant super bug which the disinfectant is unable to kill due to its mutated nature. And being the only type left, it has no competitors remaining for resources and can divide at a rapid pace, giving birth to a larger colony of highly dangerous pathogens. The same phenomena occurs when patients stop taking antibiotics half way through their treatment. The amount of bacteria in their body at that point has a higher percentage of stronger bacteria than the weaker. Therefore, when the patient decides to stop their antibiotic treatment, they inadvertently create more resistant bacteria than there originally was in their body, as the mutated bacteria now has more room to grow. If those bacteria are then passed on to another person, the rate of resistant bacteria dramatically increases, raising the amount of near invincible pathogens in the world by another percentage.

As a general rule, avoid bar soaps. Typical bar soaps are highly alkaline, and they disrupt your skin's natural lipid layer greatly. Some foaming cleansers also have high pHs and should be avoided. Look for a cleanser with a pH level between 4.5 and 5.5, as this will prevent disturbance of

Biofilms are hard to treat for many reasons. The main reason is because they are highly resistant to antibiotics. This is because the outer cells protect the inner cells from the antibiotic. Therefore, a long-term treatment of antibiotics is required to help the biofilm related infection. Living in groups, give bacteria properties they didn't have when living alone. Another reason they're hard to treat is because they are undefeatable by the body's natural immune defense system. Biofilms avoid chemical disinfection in two different ways. The first is that a gel-like polysaccharide layer provides a physical barrier against any outside agent, biological or chemical. The second is that even if a biocidal agent is introduced in a large enough quantity to eliminate the living bacteria, then

A surface active agent, also known as a surfactant is a substance that surrounds the inner surface of the lung and consists of four proteins and six phospholipid fats that are manufactured inside of the lung of the human body, however this substance can also be created artificially. The four proteins include the hydrophilic or water attracting proteins SP-A and SP-D and the opposite hydrophobic or water repelling proteins, SP-B and SP-C. The main purpose of a natural surfactant found in the body is to decrease the amount of surface tension of fluid (attraction of surface particles found in a liquid) that can be found in an organ. In the lungs for example this is achieved by securing the small air sacs inside of the alveoli (lungs).

Curtis et al (2001) noted that modern methods of promoting handwashing can be effective and cost-effective on a large scale. Studies suggest that soap is widely available, even in poor households in developing countries, although it is mostly used for bathing and washing clothes (Borghi et al, 2002). In rural India and Bangladesh, soap is often considered a beautifying agent or for the physical feeling of cleanliness which it gives, rather than being associated with the removal of microorganisms or health benefits (Hoque and Briend, 1991; Hoque et al, 1995).