• Ar
  • Es
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Feature
  • Videos
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Feature
Videos
Infographs
In Pictures
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. US & Canada
  4. CDC investigates infections, 1 death over EzriCare eye drops
US & Canada

CDC investigates infections, 1 death over EzriCare eye drops

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 2 Feb 23:56
  • 1 Shares

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges EzriCare Artificial Tears' providers and consumers to stop using the product after at least 55 infected people and 1 death appear to have used it.

  • This scanning electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows rod-shaped Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. (AP)
    This scanning electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows rod-shaped Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. (AP)

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging healthcare providers and consumers to stop using EzriCare Artificial Tears as it has launched an investigation into at least 55 infections in 12 states that have led to cases of permanent vision loss, hospitalization, and one death.

The majority of the infections have reported using at least one of more than 10 brands of artificial tears, but the majority used EzriCare’s product, according to the agency. As these eye drops are preservative-free, they don’t have ingredients to keep bacteria from growing.

Infections of the cornea, respiratory tract, intraocular fluids, and urinary tract, as well as sepsis, have been reported to the CDC.

Open EzriCare bottles have been tested and the results showed Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria that are resistant to a broad array of antibiotics. However, bacterial isolates that were tested against cefiderocol were susceptible to it.

The bacteria found could be the source of contamination either during use or during the manufacturing process, the CDC says. Unopened bottles are currently being tested.

After learning about the investigation, New Jersey-based EzriCare said in a statement that it “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 the continued use of the product.”

The eye drops are made in India, and “we understand that the same product is also marketed under other brand names,” the company said.

The manufacturer, Global Pharma Healthcare PVT Limited, is working with the US Food and Drug Administration on a recall, EzriCare added.

The CDC has been urging healthcare providers and consumers to immediately stop using EzriCare Artificial Tears. Patients who use this product should be advised to be aware of any signs of infection.

Pseudomonas bacteria are common in the environment, such as in soil and water. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is usually spread in healthcare settings, the CDC said and is increasingly difficult to treat because of antibiotic resistance. It caused more than 32,000 infections in hospitalized patients and about 2,700 deaths in the US in 2017.

  • CDC
  • health

Trending Now

All
Mental health issues among top concerns in US adults

Mental health issues among top concerns in US adults

Most Read

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks at a press conference on 25, February, 2022. (AFP)

Kiev unable to launch counteroffensive: Zelensky

  • Europe
  • 25 Mar
Europe's move has only increased Putin’s esteem outside the West -- but estimation of Europe’s political nous and understanding of Russia, however, is sharply diminished.

Lawfare Comes into Fashion: The New Geo-political ‘Rack’

  • Analysis
  • 25 Mar
President Joe Biden listens as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Friday, March 3, 2023 (AP).

Hersh: Nord Stream explosion decision possibly 'anger' or 'punishment

  • US & Canada
  • 25 Mar
hhh

UAE, KSA, India, South Korea secretly supplying missiles to Ukraine

  • Europe
  • 28 Mar

Read this

All
Syria
MENA

Repeated strikes show coordination between 'Israel', terrorists: Syria

  • 31 Mar
Medvedev
Europe

'NATO peacekeepers' to be targeted if deployed in Ukraine: Medvedev

  • 31 Mar
Romanian Indian
US & Canada

Romanian, Indian families found dead crossing into US from Canada

  • 31 Mar
ds
US & Canada

Lockheed falls behind in GMLRS production to meet new demands

  • 31 Mar
Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS