Triclosan is an antimicrobial ingredient that has been proven effective in killing many harmful bacteria. There is clear scientific evidence that antimicrobial products effectively reduce or eliminate bacteria that can lead to skin infections, intestinal illnesses or other commonly transmitted diseases. Studies have shown that triclosan has specific effects on bacteria that ultimately result in a breakdown or failure in the bacteria's cell wall. Cell wall failure affects bacteria's most vital survival processes including uptake of nutrients, inhibition of amino acid incorporation, inhibition of uracil incorporation, as well as causing membrane lysis.
News Release and Study - click here
Fischler G, Fuls J, Dail E, Duran M, Rodgers N, Waggoner A. (2007). Effects of hand wash agents on controlling transmission of pathogenic bacteria from hands to food. J Food Protection. Dec; Vol. 70(12):2873-2877.
Jones RD, Jampani HB, Newman JL, Lee AS. (2000). Triclosan: a review of effectiveness and safety in health care settings. Am J Infect Control. Apr;28(2):184-96
Bartzokas CA, Corkill JE, Makin T.(1987) Evaluation of the skin disinfecting activity and cumulative effect of chlorhexidine and triclosan handwash preparations on hands artificially contaminated with Serratia marcescens. Infect Control. Apr;8(4):163-7. Enter PubMed ID# 3294700
Tuffnell DJ, Croton RS, Hemingway DM, Hartley MN, Wake PN, Garvey RJ.(1987). Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus; the role of antisepsis in the control of an outbreak. J Hosp Infect. Nov;10(3):255-9.
Bacteria 101
In order to understand the benefits of the antimicrobial agent triclosan, it is important for consumers to know more about bacteria. Bacteria are commonly classified as either being gram-positive or gram-negative.
Everyone has bacteria on their skin. Scientists call them “resident flora” and these bacteria live naturally on the skin and are characterized as non-pathogenic, meaning they do not cause disease. Yet, some bacteria cause malodor or bad-smelling odors and should be kept in check.
Some strains of bacteria can cause infection and illness. They are often transient, meaning they travel between people in a variety of ways. Transient bacteria can get onto and into your body any number of ways and your hands are usually the easiest and most efficient carriers. Common ways bacteria can transfer to your body are touching your skin, eyes, nose or mouth area after:
- Changing a diaper
- Working out at the gym
- Handling food
- Coming into contact with a sick person
- Using the toilet
- Touching surfaces where bacteria are present like door knobs and handrails and in common areas like kitchens and bathrooms.
Triclosan is unique in providing broad spectrum antimicrobial activity against members of both types of bacteria, gram-positive and gram-negative but is not active against all bacteria in these families. Unhealthy bacteria can be found in both classes. Triclosan is also effective against molds and yeasts. Examples of these micro-organisms include:
| Gram-positive bacteria | Gram-negative bacteria | Molds and yeast |
| Bacillus subtilis | Eschericha coli | Candida albicans |
| Corynebacterium acnes | Klebsiella pneumoniae | Epidermophyton floccosum |
| Listeria monocytogenes | Proteus vulgaris | Trichophyton mentagrophytes |
| Staphylococcus aureus | Salmonella enteritids | |
| Streptococcus saprophyticus | | |
Antimicrobial activity against other micro-organisms has also been tested. Please contact your Ciba representative for further information.
Further scientific research on triclosan efficacy:
Nudera, W; M. Fayad, B. Johnson, M. Zhu, C. Wenckus, E. BeGole, C. Wu (2007) Antimicrobial Effect of Triclosan and Triclosan with Gantrez on Five Common Endodontic Pathogens. Journal of Endodontics, Volume 33, Issue 10, Pages 1239-1242
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