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Abstract

A (ST480) outbreak associated with skin cleansing wipes has comprised 59 confirmed cases in the United Kingdom 2018–2026. Cases included patients with co-morbidities and clinically relevant infections. There was one associated death. was recovered from non-sterile alcohol-free cleansing wipes which did not have the relevant medicines authorisation. Products were suspended from sale though not recalled, and the outbreak continued following public health intervention. We highlight risks of potential relevance to other countries.

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/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2026.31.9.2600145
2026-03-05
2026-04-19
/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2026.31.9.2600145
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Burkholderia stabilis infections associated with contamination of non-sterile alcohol-free skin cleansing wipes, United Kingdom, 2018 to 2026
<p class="citation"> <span>Citation style for this article:</span> <span class="meta-value authors"> <a href="/search?value1=Aideen+Carroll&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Carroll Aideen</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Rebecca+Stretch&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Stretch Rebecca</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Dan+Blackman&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Blackman Dan</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Ashley+Popay&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Popay Ashley</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Dervla+Kenna&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Kenna Dervla</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Michaela+Day&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Day Michaela</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Caroline+Willis&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Willis Caroline</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Karren+Staniforth&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Staniforth Karren</a>, <a href="/search?value1=David+Williams&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Williams David</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Karen+Osman&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Osman Karen</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Georgina+Russell&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Russell Georgina</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Jennie+Papprill&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Papprill Jennie</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Jack+Gordon-Brown&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Gordon-Brown Jack</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Gemma+Fear&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Fear Gemma</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Mariyam+Mirfenderesky&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Mirfenderesky Mariyam</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Dakshika+Jeyaratnam&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Jeyaratnam Dakshika</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Catherine+Searle&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Searle Catherine</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Richard+Pebody&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Pebody Richard</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Colin+S+Brown&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Brown Colin S</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Sarah+L+Milligan&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Milligan Sarah L</a>, <a href="/search?value1=James+Elston&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Elston James</a></span>. Burkholderia stabilis infections associated with contamination of non-sterile alcohol-free skin cleansing wipes, United Kingdom, 2018 to 2026. <a href="/content/ecdc">Euro Surveill.</a> 2026;31(9):pii=2600145. <a href="https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2026.31.9.2600145" title="doi link" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2026.31.9.2600145</a> <span class="ES_Article_citation"> <span class="generated">Received</span>: 17 Feb 2026;&nbsp;&nbsp; <span class="generated">Accepted</span>: 05 Mar 2026 </span> </p>
/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2026.31.9.2600145
/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2026.31.9.2600145
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