science from kitchen

                          with surya

Where to get help

• Your doctor

• Local government (council) health department

Things to remember

• Evidence suggests that the use of antibacterial and antimicrobial cleaning products – particularly in combination with the over-prescription of antibiotics – may produce strains of multi-resistant organisms.

• Antibacterial and antimicrobial cleaning products are no better at eliminating bacteria than cheaper plain soaps, detergents and warm water.

• Consumers should avoid using antibacterial and antimicrobial cleaning products unless they have a specific medical reason and have been advised to do so by their doctor.

How to reduce the effects of harmful bacteria

Food poisoning is a major health risk. Around 11,500 Australians are affected by food poisoning every day. This is caused by poor food storage, preparation and handling. To reduce this risk, you should:

• Wash and dry your hands after going to the toilet, blowing your nose and before handling food – especially between handling raw and cooked food.

• Use disposable paper towels to dry your hands rather than cloth towels, since the bacteria can survive for some time on objects.

• Keep cold food cold (below 5°C) and hot foot hot (above 60°C) to discourage the growth of bacteria.

• Store raw foods below cooked foods in the refrigerator.

• Use separate utensils for raw and cooked foods.

• Clean the toilet and bathroom regularly, especially the toilet seat, door handles and taps.

• Clean surfaces of baby change tables every day or more often if they are dirty.http://www.microbiologyonline.org.uk/themed/sgm/img/slideshows/3.1.2_bacteria_3.png" />

Cleaning products may contribute to antibiotic resistance

There is some evidence that the use of antibacterial and antimicrobial cleaning products – combined with the over-prescription of antibiotics – may produce strains of bacteria that are resistant to disinfectants and antibiotics. There are several issues involved:

• There may not be enough of the antibacterial or antimicrobial agent in these cleaning products to destroy bacteria completely.

• When exposed to antibacterial or antimicrobial cleaning products, most bacteria will die, but some may survive and multiply. These strains can become resistant to antibiotics and disinfectants.

• Resistant strains of bacteria can lead to increased infection risk in the community, and in hospitals and other healthcare settings.

• Disinfectants are often not used correctly. For example, they are not mixed according to the manufacturer’s instructions (more is not better).

bacteria are beneficial

Most bacteria actually help humans. For example, intestinal bacteria help us to digest food. The ‘good’ bacteria that naturally live on and inside our bodies help us stay healthy by keeping the numbers of ‘bad’, disease-causing bacteria under control.

When you use antibacterial or antimicrobial cleaning products, good bacteria are also killed. This could be harmful if the ratio of good to bad bacteria is disturbed, and bad bacteria get the upper hand.

Soap and water is just as effective

Healthy households do not need these products. Effective hand washing with soap, and household cleaning using warm water and a plain detergent is the cheapest way to get rid of germs. Avoid antibacterial or antimicrobial products – they are more expensive, no more effective at cleaning and their widespread use may pose a wider health risk.

Environmental risks

Antibacterials such as triclosan can enter the environment and may accumulate in the food chain over time. Because of this, the national regulatory authority has decided to reassess their potential to constitute an environmental hazard. This review is currently still pending.