The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that a fourth person has died as a result of a bacterial infection linked to contaminated eye drops.
In February, the CDC recalled three products, including EzriCare Artificial Tears, after numerous cases of aggressive eye infections were reported. These infections have now affected 81 individuals in at least 18 states, resulting in four deaths and 14 cases of blindness.
The CDC’s most recent report
reveals these distressing statistics.
The bacterium responsible for these infections is a highly antibiotic-resistant strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which had not previously been reported in the U.S. This outbreak has brought attention to the potential dangers of using contaminated eye drops, with EzriCare Artificial Tears being the most frequently used product among infected patients.
The recalled products, including EzriCare Artificial Tears, Delsam Pharma Artificial Tears, and Delsam Pharma Artificial Ointment, were manufactured in India by Global Pharma Healthcare. To prevent further spread of the outbreak, the manufacturer has recalled all three brands.
“These were catastrophic and life-altering infections.”
– Maroya Spalding Walters, CDC
Since February, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the CDC have issued regular warnings advising consumers and healthcare practitioners not to use the recalled products. No other products have been implicated in this outbreak.
Symptoms of the infection include discharge from the eye, eye pain, redness, sensitivity to light, and blurry vision. In addition to eye infections, the bacterium can cause infections in other parts of the body, such as the blood and lungs.
Cases of infection have been reported in 18 states across the U.S. – Connecticut, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin.
While the bacterium is highly resistant to standard antibiotics, a medication called cefiderocol has shown effectiveness in treating some infections.
PBS
has reported on this development.
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