Just because it鈥檚 soap doesn鈥檛 mean it鈥檚 clean. Several studies over the past three decades have shown that bar soap used in both and settings often harbors several types of bacteria. Among the bacteria researchers have found on bar soap are , which can cause diarrhea, along with other issues, and , the leading cause of skin infections including antibiotic-resistant .
Authors of on bar soap used in dental clinics wrote that a contaminated bar of soap may 鈥渟erve as a continuous source of infection and re-infection for the users鈥 and that bar soap has been involved in the 鈥渙utbreak of infections in the hospital.鈥
However, just because bacteria is on the soap doesn鈥檛 necessarily mean you will get infected. found that 鈥渨ashing with contaminated bar soap is unlikely to transfer bacteria.鈥 In that study, researchers inoculated soap with 70 times more bacteria than is typically found on used soap bars. Sixteen people then washed their hands with the soap, and did not subsequently have detectible levels of the bacteria on their hands. Though that study has been that bar soap won鈥檛 spread germs, it鈥檚 important to note that the makers of Dial soap backed the research.聽
So where does that leave you? The recommend using liquid soap over bar soap to prevent a MRSA infection, noting that antimicrobial soap is unnecessary. If you still want to use bar soap, do not share it, and leave it somewhere where it will dry off easily after use.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Bar soap is not inherently clean. If you鈥檙e worried about getting MRSA or other bacterial infections from a family member or teammate, use instead.