answer:the real issue with over use of anti bacterial products is that by constantly exposing bacteria to them, we increase the odds that a strain of bacteria will emerge which is resistant to them. just as any other form of life evolves to meet environmental challenges, so do bacteria evolve and mutate. a common concern during the anthrax scare was that by handing out cipro like tic tacs, we would be overexposing our most powerful antibiotic and allowing cipro-resistant strains of various nasties come into being. in short: use anti bacterials when necessary, certainly, but use regular soap most of the time.