An antibacterial hand soap is under recall because of microbial contamination, Health Canada says.

Avmor Ltd. of Laval, Que. is voluntarily recalling one lot of its Antimicrobial Foaming Hand Soap.

"Product testing undertaken by Health Canada detected bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) that may pose serious health risks to people, especially those with weakened immune systems," the department said in a release.

People with cystic fibrosis, HIV/AIDS, cancer, burns, diabetes and severe lung disease who bought or used the product could be affected.

Health Canada recommends:

  • Do not use Avmor Ltd.'s Antimicrobial Foaming Hand Soap (Triclosan 0.3 per cent) or any other antimicrobial foaming hand soap that you cannot identify from a dispenser.
  • Speak to your healthcare practitioner if you have used the affected product or have concerns about your health.
  • Schools, offices, hospitals and consumers should contact the company, Avmor Ltd., at 1-450-629-8074 extension 2360 for more information about the recall

Health Canada said it hasn't received any adverse reaction reports involving the use of the product, adding that the company confirmed it hasn't received any reports either.

The affected product has the Drug Identification Number 02319144 and lot number F121392032.

A spokesperson for the company said it has retrieved most of the recalled product, which was originally distributed in Atlantic Canada, Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia.

Paul Goldin, the company's director of marketing and technical services, said there were 1,020 one-litre containers in the recalled lot.

For those whose immune system has been weakened by other serious conditions, the bacteria can cause serious infections including pneumonia, bone infections, urinary tract infections, gastrointestinal infections, meningitis, and blood infections.

In healthy consumers, Pseudomonas bacteria can enter the body through cuts, lesions and open burn wounds and may cause local infections, abscesses and blood infection, the department said.

With files from The Canadian Press