Plain Soap Just Fine to Kill Germs: Experts

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Proper washing with regular soap and water works just fine to prevent the spread of germs and there is no clear evidence that antibacterial soaps, wipes and other products are any better, scientists told a U.S. advisory panel on Thursday.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration scientists and other experts said studies showed clear benefits from hand washing with plain soap, especially when people are taught when and how long to wash. Data on antibacterial soap are limited, they said.

"There is a lack of evidence that antiseptic soaps provide a benefit beyond plain soap in (the) community setting," said University of Michigan epidemiologist Allison Aiello.

The panel is weighing the risks of such products for consumers and whether the FDA should curb their use because they may help create drug-resistant bacteria.

The FDA, which has been grappling with the issue for more than 30 years, has yet to make a final decision on how to regulate such products, which face many issues similar to antibiotic drugs, but are available over-the-counter.

The agency is asking its advisers to recommend which consumers should use such products. It is also seeking advice on how to decide whether the soaps are effective and what risks it should consider in making its final rule.

"We're reexamining the risks to consumers," said FDA microbiologist Colleen Rogers.

The FDA, which usually follows its experts' advice, could take a variety of actions, from changing product labels to restricting marketing claims.

Soaps with bacterial-killing agents, such as Procter & Gamble Co.'s Safeguard and Henkel's Dial have been used for years are now common households products.

At issue are antibacterial products that include chemicals such as triclosan, which targets a certain enzyme that bacteria need to live and may linger in the environment. Bacteria can mutate to adapt to such chemicals, scientists say.

Doctors and other experts are concerned that excessive use of the products, like overuse of antibiotic drugs, will create bacteria-resistant "superbugs."

"Bacteria are not going to be destroyed. They've been here, they've seen dinosaurs come and go...so any attempt to sterilize our home is fraught with failure," said panelist Dr. Stuart Levy, a microbiologist at Tufts University in Boston.

Signs of drug-resistant bacteria in hospitals show the bugs are already adapting, he added.

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers, such as Pfizer Inc's Purell, caused less concern.

While one expert said data did not show they were better than plain soap, others said they do prevent the spread of germs. They also do not leave a residue that can trigger resistance.

Some doctors also worry antibacterial products can prevent children's immune system from properly developing by shielding them from bacteria needed to create natural resistance.

"This is still a controversial hypothesis," FDA's Rogers said.

Industry groups defended their antibacterial products as safe and necessary to protect consumers.

"The importance of controlling bacteria in the home is no different than in the professional setting," said Elizabeth Anderson, a lawyer for the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association. "We believe consumers should be assured that the products they are using are the most effective available."

The FDA has been sorting through the issue since 1972. Six years later it asked for more data on triclosan and again in 1994.

In the proposed rule issued more than a decade ago, the agency said such products were "practical for home use." It was not immediately clear when the agency will finalize its rule.