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A NATIONWIDE recall has been issued after a number of soap products have been contaminated with life-threatening bacteria.
Shoppers have been warned to immediately discard any affected products over the risk of contracting Sepsis.
Skincare company DermaRite Industries which makes a number of hygiene products issued the recall on Friday.
Several products are impacted and retailers including Walmart have been forced to pull them from shelves.
The announcement warned that they had discovered a “microbial contamination identified as Burkholderia cepecia” – a bacteria found in water and soil.
This “may result in serious and life-threatening infections” especially in those who have weakened immune systems, the statement said.
In such people, “the infection is more likely to spread into blood stream leading to life-threatening sepsis,” the company warned.
Sepsis can lead to amputations and death.
For those who are not immunocompromised, contact with the contaminated products could cause “minor skin lesions and local infections”.
So far there have been no reports of any health incidents related to the recall.
Multiple batches of the following products distributed across the US and Puerto Rico have been pulled from shelves:
- DermaKleen
- DermaSarra
- KleenFoam
- PeriGiene
The full details of the recalled items including lot numbers and relevant expiration dates can be found on the FDA website.
They are commonly used in healthcare settings as antibacterial hand wash and skin care.
Affected expiration dates span from August 2025 to February 2027.
DermaRite’s suppliers have been instructed to destroy any impacted products that have not yet been distributed.
Consumers who fear they are suffering from any reaction are urged to contact their health care provider or physician.
And anyone who has had any adverse reactions after use can report it to the FDA through its MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program.
This can be done here.
Concerned shoppers who have any questions are urged to call Mary Goldberg at 973-569-9000 x104 Monday through Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm EST or email voluntary.action@dermarite.com.
What are the symptoms of sepsis?
SEPSIS is a life-threatening reaction to an infection that happens when your immune system overreacts and starts to damage your body’s own tissues and organs.
Symptoms of sepsis in an adult include:
- Acting confused, slurred speech or not making sense
- Blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- A rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
- Difficulty breathing, breathlessness or breathing very fast
Symptoms in a child include:
- Blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- A rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
- Difficulty breathing (you may notice grunting noises or their stomach sucking under their ribcage), breathlessness or breathing very fast
- A weak, high-pitched cry that’s not like their normal cry
- Not responding like they normally do, or not interested in feeding or normal activities
- Being sleepier than normal or having difficulty waking
They may not have all these symptoms.
If you think you or someone else has symptoms of sepsis, call 911 or go to the emergency room.
