09/02/2026
Serious skin infections caused by disposable skin wipes.
Public advised to stop using some non-sterile alcohol-free wipes
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.
There continue to be cases of a few national hospitalisations linked to bacteria found in a small number of skin wipe products. During outbreak investigations in 2025, the following products were found to be contaminated with a bacteria called Burkholderia. These four products should not be used under any circumstances:
- 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)
Please check that you do not have any of these wipes at home or in first aid kits.
For more information, please see this link
sthttps://www.gov.uk/government/news/public-advised-to-stop-using-certain-non-sterile-alcohol-free-wipes