Medicines recallMHRA
Hibiwash 500ml recalled over possible contamination
Mölnlycke Health Care are recalling specific batches of Hibiwash due to microbial contamination at the manufacturing facility, following routine weekly microbiological monitoring.
Check your product
Only products that match these details are covered. Have your pack in front of you.
6 identifiers listed for this notice.
Hibiwash 500ml 500ml
- Batch codePrinted on the pack, often next to the date mark. It may start with L or LOT.
- 5156042
- 5156043
- 5156093
- ExpiryOn the carton, blister or label.
- 28/11/2028
- First distributedOn the product, its label or its packaging.
- 10/02/2026
- 10/03/2026
What to do now
Affected batches of Hibiwash 500ml may be contaminated, for example with particles or microorganisms.
- Keep taking your medicine unless a healthcare professional tells you otherwise.
- Check the batch number and expiry date on your pack against the list on this page.
- If it matches, your pharmacist can swap it or arrange an alternative.
- Report suspected side effects to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.
Why it matters. Contamination matters most for injections, eye drops and products used on broken skin, where it could cause infection.
Symptoms and when to get help
Look out for
- redness, swelling or pain where the product was used
- a high temperature
Get help urgently
- signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face or throat or difficulty breathing — call 999
- if you feel unwell and are worried, speak to a pharmacist, your GP or NHS 111
This is general information based on NHS public guidance, not medical advice. In an emergency call 999. For urgent advice use NHS 111 (NHS 24 on 111 in Scotland) or, in Northern Ireland, your GP or out-of-hours service.
Replacements and prescriptions
If your pack is affected, your pharmacy can usually exchange it for an unaffected batch or another suitable product. Prescription medicines are replaced through your pharmacy or prescriber; you do not need to buy a new supply yourself.
Many recalls are made at pharmacy or wholesaler level and do not require patients to act. The notice says which level applies.
From the official notice
Published by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (EL(26)A/15). Quoted as issued.
Summary
Mölnlycke Health Care are recalling specific batches of Hibiwash due to microbial contamination at the manufacturing facility, following routine weekly microbiological monitoring.
The risk
DMRC reference number DMRC- 38814497 Marketing Authorisation Holder
Advice for healthcare professionals
Stop using and supplying the specific batches of Hibiwash immediately. Quarantine all remaining stock and return it to your supplier using your supplier’s approved process.
Healthcare professionals responsible for the management of patients with cystic fibrosis or awaiting lung transplant who have been supplied with Hibiwash since 10 February 2026 should contact patients directly.
If they have product from the impacted batches, please advise them to return it to the place of supply or sale, or a pharmacy for disposal. Please reassure the patient this is a precautionary measure and the risk is low. Advise them that should they develop symptoms consistent with infection, such as a high temperature (fever), they should contact their clinical team for advice and seek medical attention. Please provide an alternative product following local procedures.
There is no need to contact other patients. If you are contacted by a member of the public or patient who suspects they have used a product from an affected batch, they should be reassured that risk is very low.
Please advise patients to return any product from the implicated batches to the place of supply or sale, or a pharmacy for disposal. Advise them if they have symptoms of infection such as fever they should seek medical attention.
Hibiwash is a General Sales List (GSL) product and may be available in retail stores and online; this advice applies to all settings where the product is sold. This product is often procured as a stock item and available in various health and care settings and the impacted batches should be quarantined and returned to the supplier/procurement team in the first instance.
Healthcare professionals (including those in pharmacy, dental, ambulance and other retailer sectors), along with supply teams for this product should consider local, co-ordinated arrangements to stop using the impacted products and source alternative products.
Please provide support to source an alternative product if/as appropriate following local procedures. Any suspected adverse reactions should also be reported via the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.
This recall is for Hibiwash 500ml and impacts batches 5156042, 5156043 and 5156093 only. The batch number can be found on the bottle. The batches specified in this notification are being recalled as precautionary measure, no reports of patient harm have been received from patients relating to this defect.
If you have received the impacted batch, do not use the product.
If you have been prescribed/provided this product by a healthcare professional, please contact them and request an alternative.
If you have purchased this product yourself, please note that alternative chlorhexidine gluconate 4% washes are available from other manufacturers and are not impacted by this recall.
Advice for patients
This recall is for Hibiwash 500ml and impacts batches 5156042, 5156043 and 5156093 only. The batch number can be found on the bottle. The batches specified in this notification are being recalled as precautionary measure, no reports of patient harm have been received from patients relating to this defect.
If you have received the impacted batch, do not use the product.
If you have been prescribed/provided this product by a healthcare professional, please contact them and request an alternative.
If you have purchased this product yourself, please note that alternative chlorhexidine gluconate 4% washes are available from other manufacturers and are not impacted by this recall.
If you develop signs and symptoms of infection such as fever, seek medical attention.
Patients who experience adverse reactions or have any questions about the medication should seek medical attention. Any suspected adverse reactions should also be reported via the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.
Open the MHRA notice
Questions
Why has Hibiwash 500ml been recalled?
Affected batches of Hibiwash 500ml may be contaminated, for example with particles or microorganisms. Contamination matters most for injections, eye drops and products used on broken skin, where it could cause infection.
How do I know if my medicine is affected?
Compare the batch code, expiry and date code on your pack with the details listed under “Check your product” on this page. Only items that match are covered by the notice.
What should I do now?
Keep taking your medicine unless a healthcare professional tells you otherwise. Check the batch number and expiry date on your pack against the list on this page.
Do I need a new prescription?
If your pack is affected, your pharmacy can usually exchange it for an unaffected batch or another suitable product. Prescription medicines are replaced through your pharmacy or prescriber; you do not need to buy a new supply yourself. Many recalls are made at pharmacy or wholesaler level and do not require patients to act. The notice says which level applies.