USA.- The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a health alert due to the outbreak of antibiotic-resistant bacteria detected in a brand of lubricating eye drops, so advised the public to discontinue its use “immediately.”
The alert is due to the presence of ‘Pseudomonas aeruginosa’ bacteria in opened vials of EzriCare Artificial Tears, an over-the-counter product used to treat irritated and dry eyes. These artificial tears are marketed in the United States by the company EzriCare LLC, but manufactured in India by Global Pharma Healthcare.
So far, 55 cases have been identified in different states of the country, one of them died from a blood infection while at least five suffered permanent loss of vision. The patients presented with a variety of conditions including inflammation of the cornea and eyeball, respiratory infection, urinary tract infection, and sepsis, an extreme immune response that can be fatal.
antibiotic resistant bacteria
Analysis by the CDC determined that ‘P. aeruginosa’ is resistant to common antibiotics. It is currently unknown whether bacterial contamination occurred during the use of the drops or during their manufacturing process. EzriCare said it was not aware of any evidence definitively linking the outbreak to the product, but has suspended its distribution and asked consumers to stop using it.
Global Pharma Healthcare’s artificial tears are also marketed under other brands in the North American country, so the pharmaceutical company has withdrawn the product and is cooperating with the US health authorities in the respective investigations.
