Public advised to stop using non-sterile alcohol-free wipes

Further to the recent National Patient Safety Alert regarding potential contamination of non-sterile alcohol-free skin cleansing wipes with Burkholderia bacteria, advice has been issued to the public to stop using non-sterile alcohol-free wipes for the treatment of injuries, wounds or on broken skin. They should also not be used for cleaning intravenous lines.

The advice is available from: Public advised to stop using certain non-sterile alcohol-free wipes - GOV.UK. This lists four types of wipes which have been found to be contaminated, which may have been used for ‘skin cleansing’ and cleaning in or around wounds.  These have been withdrawn from sale but may still be found in some first aid kits and in people’s homes. They are not routinely used in the NHS.

If people have these products, they are advised not to use them and to dispose of them in household waste as a precautionary measure.

The public is advised to follow NHS guidance when treating cuts and grazes. Patients who have intravenous lines in place are advised to follow instructions of their medical team in the care of these.

The risk is low so anyone who has used non-sterile, alcohol-free wipes does not have to visit a healthcare professional unless they have symptoms of: 

• a wound infection, which can include redness, swelling, increased pain, warmth around a wound/break in skin, and pus or other drainage from the wound/break in skin
• infection involving an intravenous line, which can include signs such as redness, swelling, or pain around the insertion site and or fever and chills.

Immunocompromised individuals, and individuals with other risk factors such as cystic fibrosis, or patients at home with intravenous lines are at higher risk of developing infection.

The public is advised to check the label and only use wipes marked as ‘sterile’ on broken skin. For more information, see: Public advised to stop using certain non-sterile alcohol-free wipes - GOV.UK. 

Healthcare professionals are advised to follow instructions and information provided in the National Patient safety alert from UKHSA.