The next time you cut out the crossword section of the newspaper, check the label on your scissors. They may contain antibacterial agents regularly found in your soap, spray cleaner, toothpaste, body wash and hand sanitizers. In fact, if you find yourself in England, look for antibacterial plastic food storage containers, or if in Italy's public laundries, you will find that antibacterial agents are touted. Keep an eye out in Boston for mattresses, pillows, sheets, towels and slippers saturated with a common antibacterial agent called triclosan.

Since Luis Pasteur discovered bacteria in 1847, a rampage to destroy germs has occurred across the world in cycles, said Elaine Larson, dean of pharmaceutical and therapeutics research at Columbia University. In the 1930s and '40s, cleanliness was next to godliness; in the 1940s and '50s, people thought they could cure anything with antibiotics; and when AIDS and other outbreaks came and persisted, people got scared.

Diseases like SARS may be part of the reason why Japan adds to the rage with antibacterial ballpoint pens, phones, deposit books and even antibacterial bait. A notable reaction in America is the increase in antibacterial household products on the market, including soaps and cleaners. In the mid-1990s, shoppers had to choose among a dozen products, whereas today over 700 are available.

Kristin Brunke, a student at the University of British Columbia, tested Dial soap and kitchen cleaner on bacteria in her microbiology class. After incubating a petri dish with E. coli or Staphylococcus epidermidis and the antibacterial agents, she found that the Dial soap showed a zone of inhibition where the bacteria did not live, but the cleaner showed no such results.

Brunke's findings are consistent with other research declaring that the antibacterial agent found in soaps, triclosan, fights against the bacteria E. coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis, but the antibacterial agent found in cleaners, sometimes bleach, does not.

In light of these results, more than 70 percent of liquid soaps are antibacterial. A group at Penn State is starting a campaign to install antibacterial soaps in dorms and buildings. This idea partly stemmed from the early and fast-spreading flu outbreak in the fall, yet another cycle in the fight against germs.

Compared to the hasty use of these disinfectants today, antibacterial use started primarily in hospitals where the transfer of dangerous germs occurred on a frequent basis.

"The Center for Disease Control actually only recommends antibacterial use in specialized situations," said Alicia Lentz, infection control nurse at Ritenour.

Some doctors said they worry that bacteria, such as E. coli, will become immune to triclosan released by antibacterial products, causing these products and antibiotics to lose their effectiveness.

Despite these worries, recent studies explain that antibacterial soaps do not lead to immunity and often are not better than regular soaps. Although antibacterial soaps fight against certain bacterias such as Stephlacoccos and E.coli, the science says that liquid soaps and water may be better than antibacterials.

One explanation is that people use antibacterial products in place of washing their hands. Antibacterials can be helpful in fast-pace germ filled areas such as the hospital because alcohol-based antibacterial hand foams provide fast destruction of the germs, a little bit of lift and a long contact time. However, doctors cannot solely depend on these products to prevent bacteria transfer; they must also wash their hands.

Over 150 years ago, Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis pinpointed the greatest protection against bacteria -- handwashing. In Europe at the time of his discovery, this Austria native noted the high mortality rate of 25 to 30 percent in a maternity hospital. He discovered that the women with puerperal fever and the doctors were carrying the same germs. After implementing strict rules that all doctors wash their hands before dealing with patients, the mortality rate plummeted to 1.27 percent. The key behind this miracle is simple handwashing.

"The act of cleaning -- meaning just scrubbing -- reduces 99 percent of germs," Larson said.

Although several parents enforce handwashing, some who are overly concerned with their children's health may buy toys with antibacterial agents. Doctors and other parents are concerned that these children will not develop an effective immune system with antibacterial soaps and toys pervading their world.

"There is a fear that we will see weak immune systems, because now you see antibacterial Dial soap on everyone's counter. There is no evidence yet, but the theory is definitely valid," Lentz said.

The hygiene hypothesis states that if children are too clean and not exposed to germs, then their immune system will be weak. Evidence has shown that kids who grow up on farms or areas with larger amounts of bacteria have fewer immune problems in general.

Children may even grow up in households with steel kitchen counters, coffeepots and doorknobs that contain antimicrobial compounds called AgIon to fight against surface transfer. Overuse of these products may have stemmed from widely held opinions and sayings such as, "it is cleaner to eat on the bathroom floor than the kitchen floor." That specific saying, however, refers to the lack of knowledge about the transfer of bacteria while preparing food with a cutting board or cleaning with a single sponge. Although the immune system is a valid concern, the Environmental Protection Agency suggests not to use antiseptic impregnated products, mostly because they don't do anything helpful. The act of handwashing is much more effective.

"When you wash your hands it's the foam action and the friction that lifts the germs, and then the water rinses the bacteria off. Washing hands regularly is the best defense," Lentz said.