Alert! Anti-bacterial not the same as Anti-viral!
Written 22 Mar 2004
By way of Arstechnica's Science Sunday column, a report on MSNBC titled Anti-bacterial soap may disappoint clarifies the role of anti-bacterial soaps and other cleaners. Apparently confusion exists in the minds of people that such cleaners provide protection against all manner of microbes.
The response from the manufacturer's of such products is understandable:
"It's important to remember that the products that were tested here do not make anti-viral claims," [said Brian Sansoni, a spokesman for the Soap and Detergent Association]However, that totally disregards the stated purpose of the study:
"People think, in their heads, that if they use an anti-bacterial soap, it will keep them from getting an infection," Larson said.They wanted to test that assumption, even though it could be assumed the researches knew the answer in advance.
This again pin-points something about the thinking of many people: anti-bacterial protects a person from all types of diseases, infections and sicknesses. The early marketing and pushing of such products in the 20th century produced beneficial and harmful results. Beneficial in that people were educated (somewhat) about bacteria and combatting them. Harmful in that somehow people were led to the still-persisting belief that anti-bacterial cures all.
Correction and education seem in order, but on who's part?