Dozens of personal-care products — from hand and body washes to lotions and sanitizers — have been recalled after tests revealed contamination with bacteria that could cause serious, and in some cases life-threatening, infections.

DermaRite Industries, a New Jersey–based health and hygiene company, first issued a voluntary recall in mid-July, before expanding the notice on August 27 to include 32 products “out of an abundance of caution,” according to the company and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The Bacteria Behind the Recall

The products were found to contain Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc), a group of bacteria commonly found in soil, water, and plants.

“Bcc is typically harmless to healthy individuals, but it poses a very real risk to people with compromised immune systems or chronic lung conditions,” explained Dr. Shweta Sharma, an infectious disease specialist at NYU Langone Health. “For patients with cystic fibrosis or those in long-term care facilities, even minor exposure could lead to severe respiratory infections or sepsis.”

The concern is heightened by the fact that many strains of Bcc are resistant to multiple antibiotics, making infections challenging to treat.

Products Impacted

DermaRite’s products are widely used in hospitals and nursing homes but are also sold through retailers in the United States and Puerto Rico. Affected items include:

• Renew Skin Repair, a skin cream
• KleenFoam, an antimicrobial foam soap
• Gel Rite, a gel hand sanitizer

A full list of recalled products is available on the DermaRite and FDA websites.

Why the Recall Matters

While most healthy individuals are at low risk, the nature of these products makes exposure concerning. “Lotions and sanitizers are applied directly to the skin, sometimes multiple times a day,” noted Dr. Angela Patel, a dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic. “If someone has even a small cut, the bacteria could bypass natural defenses and potentially lead to infection.”

What Consumers Should Do

Health experts recommend the following steps if you think you may have one of the recalled products:

• Check the list of recalled products on the FDA or DermaRite websites.
• Stop using affected items immediately.
• Dispose of them safely or return them according to recall instructions.
• Monitor for symptoms such as unusual skin irritation, fever, or difficulty breathing, especially if you are immunocompromised.
• Contact a healthcare provider if you develop signs of infection after use.

Consumer advocates also urge buyers to regularly check the FDA’s recall database. “It’s easy to assume these events are rare, but contaminated personal-care products are recalled every year,” said Lisa Y. Robinson, director of the Consumer Safety Network. “Being proactive helps protect you and your family.”

Broader Implications

This recall underscores ongoing concerns about contamination risks in personal-care and medical-grade hygiene products. Experts stress the importance of tighter quality-control measures, especially for items used in healthcare facilities.

“Every recall is a reminder that personal-care products, though common, are not risk-free,” said Dr. Sharma. “Consumers should always be alert, particularly those caring for vulnerable populations.”