The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has issued a precautionary recall affecting roughly 50,000 units of Hibiwash antimicrobial wash manufactured by Mölnlycke Health Care.
Three separate batches of the product have been withdrawn following the detection of Burkholderia cepacia contamination at the company's production facility.
The bacterial presence was uncovered through standard weekly quality checks, prompting swift regulatory action.
This Class 2 recall, announced yesterday, represents a measured response by Britain's medicines regulator to potential contamination risks.
Hibiwash is widely used for skin cleansing purposes
|Mölnlycke Health Care
No patients have reported adverse effects linked to the affected products, with the recall described as a preventative measure rather than a response to confirmed harm.
While the bacterium poses minimal threat to the general population, certain individuals face heightened vulnerability to infection.
Patients living with cystic fibrosis and those on waiting lists for lung transplantation are considered particularly at risk from Burkholderia cepacia exposure.
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The MHRA has confirmed that no cases of infection have been traced to the recalled batches thus far.
Those in high-risk categories who received Hibiwash supplies after February 10 will receive direct contact from health authorities to verify whether their product falls within the affected batch numbers.
Individuals who have not been contacted should reach out to their care team for guidance.
The affected products carry batch numbers 5156042, 5156043, and 5156093, which healthcare professionals and retailers must cease distributing immediately and return to suppliers.
Patients should examine their bottles for these identifiers and discontinue use if matched.
Anyone in possession of the affected product should stop using it
|GETTY
Shareen Doak, Deputy Director of Benefit-Risk Evaluation at the MHRA, stated: "If you have Hibiwash, check the packaging for batch numbers 5156042, 5156043 or 5156093 and stop using it.
"These batches could be contaminated with Burkholderia cepacia and should be taken to a pharmacy for safe disposal."
Alternative chlorhexidine gluconate four per cent washes remain unaffected and continue to be available for patients requiring antimicrobial products.
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