FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 14, 2003
RSPT 03-25
Contact:
Irene Malbin
202.331.1770
Brian Sansoni
202.347.2900
Antibacterial wash products - when properly used - are effective at reducing the risk of infection by killing or controlling the growth of harmful microorganisms on the skin. Use of antibacterial products is a part of good hygiene practices in homes, workplaces, schools, and healthcare settings. Because antimicrobial wash products are classified as drugs in the United States, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must review information on their safety and effectiveness.
An FDA panel of experts concluded in 1997 that bacterial resistance due to antibacterial wash products was currently not a public health concern. Last year in Europe, the European Commission's Scientific Steering Committee completed its comprehensive and thorough scientific review and analysis of data on antibiotic resistance regarding triclosan, the most commonly used antibacterial ingredient in consumer products,
(http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/ssc/out269en.pdf)
and found that:
- [The SSC considers that] "Triclosan is a useful and effective biocide which has been safely used for many years across a broad range of dental, medical, cosmetic and household products and is increasingly finding a use in clinically important applications."
- [The SSC therefore concludes that] "There is no convincing evidence that Triclosan poses a risk to humans or to the environment by inducing or transmitting antibacterial resistance under current conditions of use."
- Antimicrobial products kill germs, and that is a benefit to consumers and their families. Without these, consumers would be deprived of effective hygiene products and it would not help in eliminating antibiotic resistance. Factors that are known to contribute to an increase in antibiotic resistance are over-prescription of antibiotic medicines by doctors and misuse of antibiotics by their patients.
For more information on Triclosan, contact Ciba Specialty Chemicals at 336-801-2095 or their web site at: http://www.cibasc.com