OAN Geraldyn Berry
UPDATED 5:46 PM – Thursday, March 23, 2023
Eyedrops contaminated with a drug-resistant bacteria have been connected to two more fatalities and new ongoing cases of eyesight loss, according to U.S. officials.
Back in February, eyedrops from EzriCare and Delsam Phama were recalled.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “EzriCare Artificial Tears” was the brand most frequently mentioned by patients who admitted to using artificial tears.
EzriCare released a statement saying that after learning about the CDC’s investigation of Pseudomonas infections on January 20th, the company “immediately took action to stop any further distribution or sale of EzriCare Artificial Tears.”
“To the greatest extent possible, we have been contacting customers to advise them against continued use of the product.”
On Tuesday, the CDC stated that 68 people had been diagnosed with illnesses caused by the unusual strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which was drug-resistant and had never before been recorded in the country.
It has resulted in a total of three fatalities and eight cases of people losing their vision.
This is in addition to the one fatality and five cases of irreversible visual loss that were recorded last month. Over four people have even had surgery to remove an eyeball, as a result of the disease.
Given that the bacteria causing the outbreak are resistant to common antibiotics, the outbreak is being regarded as extremely concerning. The CDC says symptoms can include yellow, green, or clear discharge from the eye, eye pain or discomfort, redness of the eye or eyelid, feeling like something is in the eye, increased light sensitivity, and (lastly) blurry vision.
The recalled drops were manufactured by Global Pharma Healthcare in India, where the bacteria is commonly linked to outbreaks in hospitals. It reportedly spreads through contaminated hands or medical equipment.
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