Antibacterial Soap – Is It Better Than Regular Soa

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Antibacterial Soap – Is It Better Than Regular Soap? Members of the general public and especially healthcare workers are at an increased risk of infection. Travelling abroad either by plane, boat or train can consequently encourage people to falter with their hygiene measures. There could be two reasons for this: lack of resources which could lead them to not following good personal hygiene measures and also visiting countries such as third world countries which don’t have the same standard of hygiene. The consequences could be catastrophic leading to an epidemic worldwide. Aeroplanes are the best way to travel around the world but if infection control is not addressed by the passengers, disease is spread which could result in fatalities. This is due to bacteria and viruses being spread around the plane by ventilators. Recent epidemics such as swine flu (Manish, 2009) and the flesh eating bug Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (Childs, 2008) have led to an increased awareness of the spread of infection and how infections can be prevented. Good hand hygiene is the simplest and most effective way of controlling and reducing the spread of infection. The two main methods of maintaining good hand hygiene is by using soap or an alcohol based hand gel (National Health Service [NHS] 2005). If you were to look on the supermarket shelves and look for soap you will find two different types – antibacterial soap or non-antibacterial soap. About 75% of liquid soaps are antibacterial which leads us to question is antibacterial soap better than regular soap? Some scientists say no. Soap comprises of an acid – fatty acids and triglycerides, and a base – sodium hydroxide and has two main functions: to decrease the surface tension and to bind together dirt, oil and bacteria; it contains hydrophilic molecules which allow hydrophobic substances such as dirt and

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