There are many antibacterial products on the storeshelves today–dish soap; bath soap; laundry soap; etc. How do these antibacterial products affect the good bacteria within a septic system? Will such kill off the good and needful bacteria, or is it nothing over which one should be concerned?
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I haven't seen this addressed, but my shoot-from-hip sense of it, it that there is enough dilution for it not to be a problem. A teaspoon of soap into a 500-gallon septic tank is an awful lot of dilution. And while antibiotics are effective at pretty low concentrations, the soap isn't pure penicillin/cipro/ampicillim/tetracyclin/etc by a large factor. Consider all the other nasties (acid, alkalines, degreasers, etc. that people put down their septic systems already. They get diluted in the process and rarely cause an upset.
I haven't seen any good science on these products being helpful. Rather, they exist to fill a percieved need - one that advertising them helps create.
People can be seriously allergic to antibiotics. And whatever family of antibiotics are used in the soap may only serve to strengthen your bugs such that they can't be treated successfully in the hospital with that entire class of antibiotics.
Some time ago I worked at a hospital and had to attend a CDC class on infection control. The material we got is now 12 years old but I am still reading about the same issues today.
The number one germ fighting agent we have is still plain soap and water. It kills or removes most germs while not fostering bacterial immunity, causing serious reactions or decimating beneficial bacteria. It is cheap and effective. The limiting factor in its effectiveness is a willingness to consistently and frequently use it.
Microorganisms live in a ecological system with checks and balances provided by the many neutral or beneficial types of bacteria common to the human body. Using antibacterial products when not needed clears away the normal bacteria and leaves a playing field with no competition. More destructive forms thrive in this environment.
Sterility is largely a myth. Nothing is truly sterile. As soon as something is exposed to air it has some critters on it. The colonies are small and are, mostly, easily defeated by our natural defenses but it is not strictly sterile. The human body has and needs microorganisms to survive and is impossible to sterilize without killing the patient.
That said there is a place for antibacterial products. Around serious wounds, before exposure to imunocompermised individuals and after exposure to infected or suspected infected patients. Otherwise normal washing with soap and water for 20 seconds ( Sing the first verse of twinkle twinkle little star) will suffice. Wash before entering a patient room and again before leaving.
I paraphrase but this was the general gist of the 2 hr. presentation. It makes sense to me. IMHO you don't swat flies with a sledgehammer and you don't use stronger stuff than you need to. Those little critters are crafty and watching our every move. We better have a few tricks left when they come for us.