Recall germs in child care series by dm

The drugstore chain dm calls all products of the child care series „whey Michel“ due to bacteria from the trade back

12/13/2011

The drugstore chain "dm" has all products of the child care series „whey Michel“, which are distributed under the dm natural cosmetics brand Alverde, recalled. The Group states that some products in the series have been found to have an increased bacterial count of Enterobacter gergoviae, which could cause infections in injured skin, for example.

Infections by germs possible
According to Stiftung Warentest, the recalled products include a shower bath, a body lotion, a face cream, a foam soap and a shampoo. The products are advertised to soothe and protect the skin of 3- to 6-year-olds. In addition, all products contain organic whey. During a quality assurance test, "dm" detected increased bacterial load and responded immediately. As a precaution, all products of the series „whey Michel“ recalled, so the corporation.

Protect injured skin from infection
Particularly at risk are already injured skin areas. These could be more easily infected by the bacterial strain Enterobacter gergoviae. According to Stiftung Warentest, the risk of an infectious disease depends on how heavily a product is contaminated with the germs.

enter¬obacter gergoviae occur everywhere in the environment. Since its discovery 30 years ago, several infections have been reported, including urinary tract infections, respiratory and ophthalmic infections, and septicemia. Of the infections, however, were usually affected people who already had a weak immune system.

Creams could be more dangerous than shower gel
The evaluation of a heavily loaded shower gel by the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment showed that most of the germs migrated to the drain during showering and did not fall in love with the skin. Nevertheless, an infection of injured skin is possible. In the case of creams, the risk of infection could be higher because the creams are not rinsed off like shower gel, but remain on the skin.

The bacterium Enterobacter gergoviae has been repeatedly associated with serious infections in humans in the past. The germs are facultative pathogenic, which means that in particular people with a weakened immune system are particularly at risk. Infants and toddlers, whose immune system is not yet fully developed, belong to this risk group. According to information from the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, it is more difficult for the germ species that many strains are multi-drug resistant to antibiotic drugs. Therefore, the recall should be taken seriously because infection by contaminated products can cause a number of inflammatory reactions of various tissues and organs. This, in turn, can lead to serious illnesses that can lead to fatal sepsis.

What to do if the products have already been purchased?
The products should not be used. If this has already happened and the child is ill, it is recommended to seek medical advice immediately. The products can be returned in all drugstores of the chain dm branches against refund of the purchase price. For more information, contact the dm Service Center at 0800-3658633. (Ag)