Antimicrobials liquid hand soaps

One of the most widely used antimicrobial products today is 2,4,4 -trichloro-2 -hydroxydiphenyl ether, known more commonly as triclosan (Fig. 15. Id). Triclosan finds extensive use in mouthwashes, toothpastes, liquid hand soaps, deodorant products, and the like. Although it is effective against most bacteria, it has poor antifungal properties. Triclosan is also important as a textile finish, but since its water solubility is very low, aqueous application requires use of dispersing agents and binders. 

New liquid hand soap products introduced to the market in the last decade continue to focus on superior cleaning plus antibacterial and skin moisturizing benefits. Triclosan is the universal choice of antimicrobial agent for these products. 

In all I I establishments, all employees are required to wash their hands after using the toilet. Although using warm water removes most bacteria, use of soaps and especially antibacterial soaps ensure bacteria-free hands when they return to work. Liquid hand soaps currently used in I I establishments are regular hand soap, antimicrobial hand soaps, and hand sanitizer. 

Generally, antimicrobial agents are added to the liquid soap formulations to provide adequate antibacterial property against a wide variety of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. It is required by federal and state laws that health care personnel, hotels and restaurant workers, workers in food-manufacturing and service establishments, and day care providers wash their hands very frequently with antibacterial hand soaps. 

About three-fourths of all liquid soaps and nearly one-third of all bar soap made in the United States contains antimicrobial agents such as triclocarban and triclosan. Research has shown, however, that washing one s hand with plain soap and water provides as much protection from disease-causing organisms as do antimicrobial soaps. It is apparently the action of washingthat removes most bacteria. Many public health experts say that antimicrobial soaps are not necessary in normal healthy households. 

In the last 30 years the types and forms of antimicrobial products have evolved and now include bar soaps, liquid soaps, lotions, hand dips, hand sanitizers, foams, and rub products. In the United States the importance and need for antimicrobial products was recognized by an expert panel convened by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1972, and in two Tentative Final Monographs... 

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