Hygiene giant Kimberly-Clark announced yesterday that it was recalling hundreds of bottles of Kleenex-brand Luxury Foam Hand Sanitizer because they were found to contain bacteria that "may pose serious health risks to people with weakened immune systems."

The microbial contamination was linked to 430 containers of one and 1.2-litre sanitizer bottles distributed to stores across Canada.

In its statement concerning the recall, Health Canada insists that little risk is posed by the bacteria to healthy Canadians, but individuals with compromised immune systems, "especially those with cystic fibrosis," could develop serious infections, "including pneumonia and blood infection."

Immune-compromised consumers who have already come into contact with one of the tainted bottles [pdf] should speak to a healthcare provider if they have any concerns or experience an adverse reaction.