Laboratory Professionals Member Community

Alert: Use Only Sterile Ultrasound Gel for Percutaneous Procedures

Improper use of ultrasound gel risks patient safety

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is assisting with an ongoing multistate investigation involving use of non-sterile ultrasound gel for ultrasound-guided percutaneous procedures (procedures that involve skin or tissue puncture). Product testing identified Paraburkholderia fungorum (formerly Burkholderia fungorum) from two non-sterile ultrasound gel products. Genetically similar isolates of P. fungorum were also detected primarily from patient blood cultures; some of these patients were known to have undergone ultrasound-guided percutaneous procedures prior to culture collection. 

Use of non-sterile ultrasound gel for percutaneous procedures risks patient safety. 

Healthcare Providers 

Select the right product: Only use single-use ultrasound gel products labeled as "sterile" for ultrasonography in preparation for or during percutaneous procedures. 

Train personnel: Personnel who perform ultrasounds and ultrasound-associated procedures should be trained in the appropriate use of ultrasound gel products. 

Review the label: An ultrasound gel product label's claim of "bacteriostatic" or "preservative" without a specific indication of sterility should be considered "non-sterile" for clinical purposes. 

Use of non-sterile ultrasound gel for percutaneous procedures could result in patient harm. These risks are not limited to scenarios where there is known product contamination, as microorganisms may be present in non-sterile products in general.

Facilities: Report any adverse events or quality problems experienced with the use of ultrasound gel products to the product manufacturer and FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program.

For current outbreak information, visit: Alert: Use Only Sterile Ultrasound Gel for Percutaneous Procedures. https://www.cdc.gov/healthcare-associated-infections/bulletins/outbreak-ultrasound-gel.html

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Rodney E. Rohde, PhD, MS, SM(ASCP)CM,SVCM,MBCM, FACSc
Regents' Professor, Texas State University System
University Distinguished Chair & Professor, Medical Laboratory Science [MLS] Program
TEDx Speaker & Global Fellow – Global Citizenship Alliance
Texas State Honorary Professor of International Studies
Associate Director, Translational Health Research Initiative @txst_THR
Past President, Texas Association for CLS

Texas State University
MLS Program, Encino Hall 350B [office ENC 363]
601 University Drive
San Marcos, TX 78666-4616
512-245-3500 [CLS suite]; 512-245-2562 [office]
Email: rrohde@txstate.edu
Pronouns: he/him/his
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