Last month, the CDC issued a warning after a brand of eye drops left 1 person dead and 3 people permanently blinded after 50 cases in 11 states. Now 3 are dead, 8 blind, and 4 required surgical removal of an eyeball.
Bacteria-infected eye drops linked to 3 dead, 8 blind
In recent months, both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have warned consumers, patients, and clinicians to stop using EzriCare and Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Tears products.
Consumers are warned to immediately stop using EzriCare Artificial Tears products until pending more information from the CDC and FDA.
In February, a nationwide recall was issued on multiple brands of eye drops distributed by EzriCare and Delsam Pharma and manufactured under Global Pharma Healthcare due to contamination with the rare Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, People reported.
Latest update after deaths and incidents of blindness increase
In the latest update from the CDC, as of March 14, 2023, the agency has identified 68 patients in 16 states who were infected by a rare strain of P. aeruginosa, an antibiotic-resistant bacteria, after using one of over 10 different brands of artificial tears, with some patients using multiple brands.
The brand most commonly used was EzriCare Artificial Tears, an over-the-counter product.
The CDC said testing of unopened bottles is ongoing to determine whether the contamination occurred during manufacturing.
So far, most of the cases of infection were linked to multidose bottles of the over-the-counter products of EzriCare Artificial Tears, but some infections were found in other brands distributed from Delsam Pharma, and all from the manufacturer Global Pharma Healthcare, according to the CDC.
Have you used these eye drops? Signs you might be infected
Anyone who may have previously used the now-recalled eye drops should familiarize themselves with the symptoms that could indicate a possible infection. Anyone with the following symptoms should seek medical care immediately.
Common signs are:
-Clear, yellow, or green discharge from the eye.
-Eye pain or discomfort.
-Redness of the eye or eyelid.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa in healthcare settings
Typically, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is found in healthcare settings. It most commonly gets spread from one person to another through contaminated hands, surfaces, or equipment. The infection sometimes occurs after surgeries. The bacteria can cause infections in the blood, lungs (pneumonia), and other parts of the body.
A massive outbreak in 2017 among hospitalized patients caused an estimated 32,600 infections that resulted in roughly 2,700 deaths, according to the CDC.
