CDC

Paraburkholderia infections linked to nonsterile ultrasound gel in 3 countries

December 12, 2025

From May 2023 through April 2025, health authorities in the U.S., Canada, and Israel detected Paraburkholderia species in 42 clinical specimens from patients who underwent percutaneous procedures. Epidemiologic investigations linked these infections to the use of nonsterile ultrasound gel, which was applied to intact skin before needle insertion. The implicated gel was intended for external use only and not labeled as sterile.

Clinical takeaway: Use of nonsterile ultrasound gel for percutaneous procedures isn't recommended. Guidelines on appropriate ultrasound gel use advise sterile gel for any applications before, during, or after a procedure that breaches the skin at the ultrasound site.

Source:

Lim S, et al. (2025, December 11). CDC. Detection of Paraburkholderia in Clinical Specimens Associated with Use of Nonsterile Ultrasound Gel for Percutaneous Procedures — United States, Canada, and Israel, May 2023⎯April 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/74/wr/mm7440a2.htm