UKHSA and MHRA are urging the public not to use 4 specified non-sterile alcohol-free wipe products due to the risk of infection associated with their use.
Additionally, UKHSA and MHRA would like to remind people that non-sterile alcohol-free wipes, of any type or brand, should not be used for first aid, applied on broken or damaged skin and should never be used for cleaning intravenous lines.
Following an outbreak of Burkholderia stabilis and investigations, the following products were found to be contaminated with Burkholderia. These four products should not be used under any circumstances:
Reliwipe Alcohol Free Cleansing Wipes (testing revealed contamination with a Burkholderia strain not related to the outbreak cases)
ValueAid Alcohol Free Cleansing Wipes
Microsafe Moist Wipe Alcohol Free
Steroplast Sterowipe Alcohol Free Cleansing Wipes
Please check your first aid kits and dispose of any of these wipes.
Only use wipes marked as ‘sterile’ on broken skin such as wounds, scratches, or where you can see blood – this reduces the chances of germs getting into the body and causing infections.
