BMJ  2004;329 (21 August), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7463.0-f

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Antibacterial household products don't reduce symptoms of infectious disease

Question Does the use of antibacterial household products reduce symptoms of infectious disease?

Synopsis The effect of antibacterial products on infectious disease symptoms has not been previously studied despite their widespread use. This rigorously designed randomised double blind study included 238 urban households of at least three people, at least one of whom was a preschool child. Each household received products with or without antibacterial ingredients to use for 48 weeks. Analysis was by intention to treat. The antibacterial products were a general spray cleaner with a quaternary ammonium compound for use on hard surfaces, a hand washing product with triclosan, and a laundry detergent with oxygenated bleach. Households were surveyed weekly for infectious disease symptoms: vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, cough, runny nose, skin infections, and conjunctivitis. During a total of 2737 household months there were no differences between the two groups for the presence of any infectious disease symptom (33% . . . [Full text of this article]

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