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HEALTH chiefs are warning Brits to urgently dispose of three types of skin cleansing wipes after they were linked to outbreaks of life-threatening bacteria.
An investigation by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) found three brands of non-sterile wipes to be contaminated with Burkholderia stabilis bacteria.
Fifty-one people were confirmed to have been affected by the outbreak in the UK between 2018 and 2025.
Though it hasn’t caused any deaths, “there have been some serious infections which have required hospital treatment”, the UKHSA said.
Officials now suspect the cases were linked to specific skin wipe brands.
UKHSA advised people who’ve bought affected wipes for ‘skin cleansing’ and wound cleaning purposes to stop using them and bin them immediately to avoid contamination.
Read more on health warnings
Bacteria was found in the following products:
- ValueAid Alcohol Free Cleansing Wipes
- Microsafe Moist Wipe Alcohol Free
- Steroplast Sterowipe Alcohol Free Cleansing Wipes
The wipes are alcohol-free and not marked as ‘sterile’ – meaning they aren’t completely free of germs.
Testing also revealed contamination of Reliwipe Alcohol Free Cleansing Wipes, although not with the Burkholderia strain linked to the outbreak.
Packs of the wipes have been pulled from shelves and are no longer for sale.
The UKHSA also issued a safety alert to health professionals about recent infections potentially being linked to contaminated wipes to help keep patients safe.
But UKHSA warned that wipes may also have been included in first aid kits.
It urged customers to look through first aid kits and check packs they already have in their homes.
Burkholderia stabilis is a bacteria found in natural environments and rarely causes infection in healthy people.
The bug poses only a low risk to the general population, the UKHSA said.
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But people with weakened immune systems and cystic fibrosis, or those who use intravenous lines at home, are at higher risk of infection.
Dr James Elston, consultant in epidemiology and public health at UKHSA, said: “While the overall risk to the public remains very low, a number of non-sterile alcohol-free wipe products have been linked to an outbreak of Burkholderia stabilis.
“It is important these types of wipes are not used for the treatment of injuries, wounds, or broken skin, and that they are not used to clean intravenous lines.”
If you have used non-sterile wipes, you don’t have to get medical help unless you have symptoms of:
- A wound infection, which can include redness, swelling, increased pain, warmth around the wound and pus
- An intravenous line infection, which can include signs such as redness, swelling, or pain around the insertion site and or fever and chills
The health watchdog stressed that other non-sterile, alcohol-free wipes not included in the alert shouldn’t be used for treating injuries, wounds or on broken skin anyway, as “their safety cannot be guaranteed”.
How to clean wounds, cuts and grazes
You can treat a cut or graze yourself by stopping any bleeding, cleaning the wound, and covering it with a plaster or dressing.
This will help stop it getting infected.
What to do if the wound is bleeding a lot
- Check the wound and make sure there’s nothing stuck in it.
- If there’s nothing in the wound, put pressure on it using a bandage or a clean, folded cloth (such as a tea towel) for 10 minutes.
- If there’s something stuck in the wound, do not try to take it out. Make sure not to press down on the object. Press firmly either side of it to push the edges of the wound together.
- If the wound is on your hand or arm, raise it above your head. If the wound is on your lower limb, lie down and raise it above the level of your heart. This will help reduce the blood flow.
- When the bleeding has stopped, firmly wrap a new bandage over the first cloth or bandage.
- If the wound keeps bleeding, leave the first bandage in place and add another one. Keep pressing firmly on the wound for another 10 minutes.
How to clean and dress a cut or graze
If the bleeding has stopped, you can clean a small wound and then put a plaster or dressing over it.
- Wash your hands thoroughly and dry them. Put on disposable gloves if you have some.
- Clean the wound by rinsing it with bottled or tap water, or by using sterile wipes.
- Clean the skin around the wound using soap and water or antiseptic – but try not to get antiseptic into the wound.
- Pat the area dry using a gauze swab or a clean tea towel.
- Put on a sterile dressing or a plaster.
Keep the dressing clean by changing it as often as you need.
You can take it off after a few days, once the wound has closed.
Source: NHS
Dr Alison Cave, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (MHRA) chief safety officer, said: “We consider wipes which are intended for a medical purpose to be medicines.
“These products do not have a medicines authorisation.
“Anyone who has used alcohol-free wipes and has concerns about potential infection is advised to speak with a healthcare professional.”
UKHSA stressed that you should only use wipes marked as ‘sterile’ on broken skin such as wounds, scratches, or where you can see blood, to reduce the chances of germ entering the body and causing infections
You should also check that your first aid kit contains wipes marked as ‘sterile’, disposing of any wipes with damaged packaging or past their expiry date.
