6 deaths linked to outbreak of fatal bacterium in wet wipes

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) issued a warning to all Brits last month, reminding them to avoid using four non-sterile alcohol-free wipe products:

• ValueAid Alcohol Free Cleansing Wipes
• Microsafe Moist Wipe Alcohol Free
• Steroplast Sterowipe Alcohol Free Cleansing Wipes
• Reliwipe Alcohol Free Cleansing Wipes (testing revealed contamination with a Burkholderia strain not related to the outbreak cases)

The warning came after the wet wipes were found to be contaminated with Burkholderia stabilis, a bacterium found in natural environments that can cause infections.

It rarely affects healthy individuals, but there is an increased risk of infection for those with a weakened immune system, cystic fibrosis, and patients at home with intravenous lines.

The MHRA has been working with the manufacturers and distributors of these wet wipes, and the sale and supply of the contaminated products has now ceased.

However, Brits are being urged to check for affected wipes as some of these products may still be in first aid kits and people’s homes.

If found, they should be immediately removed from use and disposed of appropriately.

Consultant in Epidemiology and Public Health at UKHSA, Dr James Elston, said: “We are reminding the public not to use, and to dispose of, certain non-sterile alcohol-free wipes which have been linked to an outbreak of Burkholderia stabilis.

“The overall risk to the public remains very low, and affected products have been withdrawn from sale.

“However, we are continuing to see a small number of cases in vulnerable patients, and we are now aware of one associated death.  

“Non-sterile alcohol-free wipes, of any type or brand, should not be used for the treatment of injuries, wounds, or broken skin; and they should never be used to clean intravenous lines.”

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Six deaths linked to “ongoing outbreak” of fatal bacterium found in contaminated wet wipes

The “ongoing outbreak” of Burkholderia stabilis associated with non-sterile alcohol-free cleansing wipes continues to cause infections and deaths in the UK.

The latest figures, released by Eurosurveillance this month, show 59 confirmed cases of Burkholderia stabilis associated with contaminated non-sterile alcohol-free wipe products in the UK as of February (from January 2018).

The infectious disease experts added: “Five confirmed and one probable case died within 30 days of detection of B. stabilis.

“One death was attributed to their Burkholderia infection.”