Health officials in the UK are warning the public after a death was connected to contaminated alcohol free cleansing wipes. The case raised wider concerns about products many people keep in their homes, especially wipes that are commonly used to clean minor wounds or damaged skin.
Testing carried out by health investigators found a strain of bacteria present in some wet wipe products sold in the UK. The concern is that these wipes are sometimes used during wound care, which can allow bacteria to enter the body through broken skin.
Doctors say symptoms of infection may include redness, swelling, pain, warmth and sometimes pus around the injured area. In more severe situations the infection can spread through the body, eventually developing into sepsis, which is considered life threatening and requires urgent medical treatment.
Researchers say there have been 59 confirmed cases of Burkholderia stabilis identified in the UK since June 2018. According to a study published in Eurosurveillance, five people with confirmed infections died, and investigators also recorded one additional death that was considered a probable case.
The patients affected ranged widely in age, from infants under one year old to elderly adults in their nineties. Officials also noted that 15 of the people who became infected were younger than nineteen, showing the bacteria has affected both children and adults.
Burkholderia bacteria exist naturally in the environment and are often found in soil and water. Infection can happen when the bacteria enters the body through damaged or broken skin, which is exactly the type of situation where cleansing wipes are normally used.
Most people will never experience serious illness from this bacteria, but certain groups face higher risk. Patients with weakened immune systems, people receiving chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients and individuals living with cystic fibrosis may have more difficulty fighting the infection.
Last month the UK Health Security Agency released a statement saying every confirmed case in the outbreak had been connected to non sterile alcohol free wipe products. Investigators also said several brands had been identified during testing of the contaminated wipes.
According to the agency, the following products “were found to be contaminated with the strain of Burkholderia stabilis causing the current outbreak”: ValueAid Alcohol Free Cleansing Wipes, Microsafe Moist Wipe Alcohol Free, Steroplast Sterowipe Alcohol Free Cleansing Wipes, and Reliwipe Alcohol Free Cleansing Wipes.
Health officials confirmed the wipes had already been taken off store shelves after the contamination was discovered. However, they warned the products could still be sitting inside household first aid kits or stored in cupboards where people may continue using them.
The agency also explained that testing later showed contamination in Reliwipe Alcohol Free Cleansing Wipes was not directly connected to the outbreak cases. Still, officials are urging people to avoid using the products while investigations and safety precautions continue.
UKHSA officials warned: “If you have any of these products, stop using them immediately and dispose of them in standard household waste. It is important to 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.”
Doctors say anyone concerned about a wound that does not heal properly should seek medical advice. Patients who notice worsening symptoms or signs consistent with sepsis are urged to contact medical services quickly, including calling 111 for guidance and immediate help.
