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by maddock on September 16th, 2007
Overall yes, it increases bacterial resistance causing more potent strains.
One example is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, which is an extremely lethal 'superbug' that lives in hospitals. The generation of bacteria is so short that they are able to run through many generations very quickly compared to our time-reference frame (30 years or so). In those 30 years, thousands of generations of bacteria have evolved, altered their DNA and adapted.
MRSA, as I will call it, is caused by overuse of strong antiseptics in hospitals. If you get it, you're usually dead within 24-48 hours, and the only antidote is typically vancomycin administered intra-aortally (think about that, an IV drip into your heart's main artery); and it often causes severe reactions and permanent deafness.
The Russians during the Soviet era developed Bacteriophage technology to a much greater degree than we did. A macro/bacteriophage is a designer virus that eats only a particular strain of bacterium, and then self destructs or is killed by the body's lymphatic system. They literally have hooks that rip the wall of the bacterium open and tear up the DNA. Amazing stuff but obviously not something to toy with.
So I went way beyond the question, I'm sorry:
Don't use antibacterial soap, it weakens your immune system. Live normally, wash your hands with good old soap liberally, and don't lick pay phones.
We do have one thing on our side.. bleach, or chlorine specifically. It has, does and always will kill any living tissue.
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