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Fortune
Fortune
Chris Morris

Hand soap recalled for bacterial infection that could cause sepsis

A person washing their hands (Credit: Visual Vic—Getty Images)
  • DermaRite Industries has recalled several soaps and antiseptic cleaners. The soaps could be infected with a bacteria that could lead to sepsis for immunocompromised people. Consumers are being encouraged to stop using the affected items immediately.

Washing your hands is the best way to kill germs—most of the time. But a New Jersey manufacturer of hand soap has issued an urgent recall after discovering four of its products could include Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc), a bacterial group that can cause chronic lung infections and be potentially deadly to people who are immunocompromised. For those patients, the infection could spread into blood stream leading to life-threatening sepsis.

DermaRite Industries, the company behind the recall, says it has not yet received any reports of illnesses or worse. Consumers in possession of the recalled items can email voluntary.action@dermarite.com. They’re advised to stop using them immediately.

Several soaps, external-pain management products, antimicrobial foam soaps and antiseptic cleansers were included in the recall. If you’re a DermaRite user, you’ll need to check your product’s brand names and lot numbers to identify whether they’re included.

Here’s a look at the recalled products:

DermaKleen (antiseptic lotion soap with vitamin E)

Packaging: 800ml, 12/case; 1000ml, 10/case

Reorder #0090BB and #0092BB

Expires between July 2025 and February 2027

Variety of lot numbers

DermaSarra (external analgesic cream)

Packaging: 7.5oz tube, 24/ case

Reorder #00188

Expires February 2026

Lot number 40187.2

KleenFoam (antimicrobial foam soap)

Packaging: 1000ml, 6/case

Reorder #0093F

Expires between August 2025 and January 2027

Variety of lot numbers

PeriGiene (antiseptic perineal cleanser)

Packaging: 7.5oz bottle, 48/ case

Reorder #00198

Expires between November 2025 and January 2027

Variety of lot numbers

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