Regular Soap Just as Effective as Antibacterial Soap

In August of 2008, Allison E. Aiello, Ph. D., of the University of Michigan School of Public Health published in the American Journal of Public Health that regular soap was just as effective at preventing infection as antibacterial soap. To come to this conclusion, she analyzed 30 community-based intervention studies focused on hand sanitation published from June 1970 to May 2007. The study found that the use non-antibacterial soap reduced GI illness by 31% and respiratory infection by 21%. However, the use of antibacterial soap did not have any added benefit. Thus, good hand hygiene is important, but it does not matter if the soap is antibacterial or not. Also, hand washing seems to prevent GI illness more effectively than respiratory illness. However, more studies analyzing hygiene practices during respiratory infection are needed.