New York, August 13, 2025 (Agencies): A major nationwide recall has been issued in the United States for several over-the-counter antiseptic and antimicrobial soaps after tests revealed contamination with Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc), a potentially deadly bacterium linked to severe infections and sepsis.
The recall, announced on August 8 by New Jersey-based DermaRite Industries and posted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on August 9, affects multiple lots of DermaKleen, DermaSarra, KleenFoam and PeriGiene products distributed across the United States and Puerto Rico.
According to the FDA, while healthy individuals may experience only minor skin infections, people with weakened immune systems, chronic lung disease or open wounds are at significant risk of serious illness, including bloodstream infections that can be fatal.
B. cepacia is a resilient gram-negative bacterium found in soil and water, capable of surviving in disinfectants and medical products. It is known for its resistance to many antibiotics, making infections difficult to treat.
No confirmed illness cases have been linked to the products so far, but DermaRite has urged distributors and consumers to immediately stop using and destroy the affected lots. The company has also set up a dedicated contact line for inquiries.
Consumers are advised to check product labels for recalled lot numbers—expiring between July 2025 and February 2027—and to report any adverse reactions to the FDA’s MedWatch program. Symptoms of concern include fever, fatigue, unexplained skin irritation and, in severe cases, signs of sepsis.