Björn Birkhahn/Alamy.com
A patient has died after contracting a Burkholderia stabilis infection associated with non-sterile alcohol-free wipes, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed.
In a joint statement published on 5 February 2026, the UKHSA and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) warned that people may still have non-sterile alcohol-free wipes in their homes and first aid kits, which should be removed immediately.
During outbreak investigations conducted by the MHRA in 2025, four products were found to be contaminated with Burkholderia stabilis, after which the agency issued a warning and removed products from sale during summer 2025.
“There have been 59 confirmed cases of Burkholderia stabilis associated with some non-sterile alcohol-free wipe products — identified in an outbreak in the United Kingdom from January 2018 to 3 February 2026,” the statement said.
“A small number of cases continue to be detected. These have included some serious infections which have required hospital treatment and one death has been attributed to Burkholderia stabilis infection.”
The organisations also stressed that only wipes marked as “sterile” should be used on broken skin and only used to clean intravenous lines if instructed by a patient’s medical team.
Burkholderia stabilis rarely causes infection in healthy individuals. However, immunocompromised individuals — those with other risk factors such as cystic fibrosis and patients at home with intravenous lines — are at higher risk of developing infection, the agencies said.
James Elston, consultant in epidemiology and public health at UKHSA, 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“The overall risk to the public remains very low, and affected products have been withdrawn from sale.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.
“[The] UKHSA uncovered the link to this outbreak through testing of wipes used by those affected and worked quickly to notify healthcare professionals through a patient safety alert in June 2025. We have provided a further update to reinforce infection prevention and control guidance,” he added.
