Zerah Lurie's 1,700-word dissection of one of today's big marketing trends -- antibacterial products -- may not tell people what they wanted to hear, or even what they thought they knew. But it could help them stay healthy. Antibacterials used to be something found just in soap, but today they are found in fabrics, plastics, toothbrushes, and toilet paper. The burden of Lurie's piece is simple: "There is little actual science that shows that the average consumer will benefit from antibacterial or antiviral products. At the same time, the widespread use of such products has generated concern in the scientific community. The biggest fear is that bacteria will eventually develop a resistance to antibacterial products, rendering the latter useless to those who actually do need them." Though antibacterial resistance is a theoretical worry, Lurie is quick to report that there's no evidence yet that it is actually happening. Antibacterials offer little protection against viruses - which are the culprits behind many or most of the common diseases transmitted by hands or surfaces. While antibacterials have some legitimate uses, Lurie makes the case that industry is making big bucks exploiting peoples' fears to sell them something that does no good. The best defense is frequent and thorough handwashing with simple soap - something a major fraction of U.S. consumers neglect to do.

See:
http://www.newsday.com/news/health/ny-b3897933jul20,0,2996066.story