Cardinal Health announced on March 19 a voluntary nationwide recall of select lots of its Webcol Large Alcohol Prep Pads after discovering microbial contamination. The company said the affected products, which contain 70% isopropyl alcohol, were found to be contaminated with Paenibacillus phoenicis.
The recall is significant because use of the contaminated pads could lead to local or systemic infections, especially in patients with weakened immune systems. According to Cardinal Health, individuals such as cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or those with poorly controlled diabetes may be at risk for serious and potentially life-threatening infections like bacteremia or central nervous system infections.
The recalled Webcol Alcohol Prep Pads are intended for external cleansing and were distributed in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Japan between September 2025 and February 2026. Cardinal Health notified customers by overnight mail on March 2 with instructions to review inventory for affected product codes, segregate and quarantine any impacted items, disseminate the notice throughout relevant departments and clinics, notify downstream customers, and return an acknowledgment form confirming receipt of the recall notice.
Consumers who have questions about the recall can contact Cardinal Health by email at GMB-FieldCorrectiveAction@cardinalhealth.com or by phone at 800-292-9332 during business hours. Those who experience problems related to use of this product are advised to consult their healthcare provider. Adverse reactions or quality issues can also be reported directly to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's MedWatch program online or via mail or fax.
This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
