- The CDC will stop using eye drops that may be associated with drug-resistant infections.
- Recommendations are preventative and after 50 patients have tested positive for drug-resistant bacteria.
- Most patients used EzriCare artificial tears, but it’s unclear whether the product caused the epidemic.
People should “immediately” stop using eye drops that may be associated with drug-resistant infections. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said:
The recommendations are a precautionary measure after reports of “permanent vision loss” from eye infections and one death from a bloodstream infection, the CDC said.Patient tested positive Multidrug-resistant bacteria.
Current January 20th Fifty people in 11 states (California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Texas, Utah, and Washington) have tested positive for a bacterium called Pseudomonas aeruginosa. According to the CDC.
The “majority” of patients with positive samples told the CDC that they used eye drops before testing, and the most commonly mentioned brand was EzriCare artificial tears. The CDC said the samples were taken from patients at hospitals and outpatient clinics between May 2022 and December 2022.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause infections in blood, lungs, wounds become difficult Treat as the evolution of defense mechanisms against antibiotics, known as antibiotic resistance. Bacteria are commonly spread when exposed to contaminated water and soil in hospitals and other health care facilities. According to the CDC.
The strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa found is resistant to carbapenems, powerful antibiotics that kill bacteria that cause illnesses such as pneumonia, urinary infections and severe skin infections. It is also resistant to two other antibiotics called ceftazidime, which doctors use for urinary infections, meningitis, and bloodstream infections, and cefepime, which can also be used for urinary infections.
CDC is investigating whether eye drops caused outbreak
Lab testing of opened bottles of EzriCare eye drops detected another type of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
The bacterium is undergoing further testing to see if it matches the epidemic strain, according to the CDC.
“Testing of unopened bottles of EzriCare artificial tears is ongoing,” it said.
Stop using EzriCare Artificial Tears as a precaution
Meanwhile, the CDC says, “We recommend that clinicians and patients immediately discontinue use of EzriCare Artificial Tears until epidemiological investigations and laboratory analyzes are completed.”
Ezrikea said in a January 24 statement The CDC has not asked the company to recall any products, and has not received “reports of consumer complaints or adverse events related to the investigation,” it said.
“Out of caution, EzriCare has decided to discontinue use of EzriCare Artificial Tears Lubricant Eye Drops during this evolving situation until more information is available about potential safety concerns. It is recommended.
An Insider reached out to EzriCare for comment.
