This scanning electron microscope image provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the rod-shaped Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. US health officials are advising people to stop using the over-the-counter eye drop, EzriCare Artificial Tears, which has been linked to an outbreak of drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections.
Janice Haney Carr/AP
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Janice Haney Carr/AP
This scanning electron microscope image provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the rod-shaped Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. US health officials are advising people to stop using the over-the-counter eye drop, EzriCare Artificial Tears, which has been linked to an outbreak of drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections.
Janice Haney Carr/AP
U.S. health officials said on Thursday the maker of one brand of over-the-counter eye drops is recalling the product after it was potentially linked to an outbreak of drug-resistant infections.
Both the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are advise against using EzriCare artificial tears, as they can be contaminated and have been linked to an outbreak of the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which has resulted in death.
The product manufacturer, Global Pharma, issue a recall order Wednesday. The product has also been linked to hospitalization and blindness. According to the CDC, Pseudomonas is a bacteria commonly found in soil or water, while Pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause infections in the lungs, blood, and other parts of the human body, especially after surgery.
There were 55 cases reported across 12 states — California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin — between May 2022 and last month, two agencies federal agency said.
According to the CDC, patients reported using more than 10 different brands of artificial tears, but the EzriCare product, which is sold over-the-counter and without preservatives, was consistently mentioned. CDC said.
This outbreak of this particular strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, VIM-GES-CRPA, has never been detected in the US before, the CDC says.
Opened bottles of EzriCare artificial tears match the outbreak strain. CDC is currently inspecting unopened bottles of the product to see if the bottles have been contaminated during the manufacturing process. We recommend that clinics and patients pause using the product until both CDC and FDA issue additional guidance.
People who have used this product may begin to develop symptoms of an eye infection, including yellow, green, or clear eye discharge, eye pain or discomfort, eye or eyelid redness, or blurred vision.
