Six people have died and 62 others have been infected after wet wipes produced at a UK manufacturing facility were contaminated with deadly bacteria. British health authorities are strongly urging anyone with the affected products to dispose of them immediately.
According to British outlet The Sun on Thursday (local time), the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) officially confirmed an outbreak of Burkholderia stabilis (B. stabilis) bacteria in a report published in the medical journal Eurosurveillance. The bacterium naturally occurs in soil and water and is generally harmless to healthy individuals, but can cause sepsis and organ failure in immunocompromised patients, potentially leading to death.
According to the report, a total of 62 infections have been confirmed, including 59 confirmed cases and 3 suspected cases. Six people died within 30 days of confirmed infection, with at least one death directly attributed to the bacterial infection. Infected individuals ranged widely in age from newborns to 93-year-old elderly patients, including 15 people aged 19 or younger. The bacteria was detected in the bloodstream of 39 patients and in wound sites of 16 others, with a total of 31 patients requiring hospitalization.
UKHSA identified four contaminated wet wipe brands—ValueAid, Microsafe, Steroplast Sterowipe, and Reliwipe—and warned they should "not be used under any circumstances."
Three of these products were manufactured at the same factory in the UK. The products were produced in non-sterile conditions, posing significant risk of bacterial penetration into the body when used around wounds or intravenous line sites.
Dr. James Elston of UKHSA stated, "Sales of the products have been halted, but they may still remain in household first aid kits," adding that "non-sterile alcohol-free wet wipes should never be used on wounds or damaged skin and should be disposed of immediately."
Authorities are urging anyone experiencing wounds that fail to heal properly or fever symptoms following an injury to seek medical attention immediately.
