Stop Using These Eye Drops Immediately, Says CDC
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging people to stop making and using EzriCare artificial tears while they investigate dozens of bacterial infections that have left three people permanently blind and one dead, according to NBC News . Infections are potentially associated with over-the-counter eye drops, according to a CDC press release . They identified 55 people in 12 states infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa , a type of bacteria that is resistant to most antibiotics . States: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Do EzriCare eye drops cause a bacterial infection?
The CDC, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and state and local health authorities are currently investigating a possible link between the product and the outbreak. About three-quarters of people with a bacterial infection said they used artificial tears before they got sick. Of those who could remember the brand, 85% said they had used EzriCare artificial tears. However, patients have reported over 10 different brands of eye drops, with some using multiple brands. You can read the full nationwide review here .
Pseudomonas aeruginosa occurs naturally in water and soil. According to WebMD, the virus can be transmitted to people in healthcare settings through contaminated surfaces, hands, and equipment. In healthy people, strains of the bacteria can even be found in moist parts of the body, such as the armpits or genitals.
Some types of bacteria are resistant to nearly all antibiotics, according to the CDC . “That’s what we’re so worried about,” Dr. Jill Weatherhead, assistant professor of tropical medicine and infectious disease at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, told NBC News . “Our standard treatments are no longer available” to treat the infection.
The eye drops are labeled preservative-free, which means that there is nothing in the product that could stop the growth of microorganisms if it becomes contaminated during the manufacturing process or if an infected person opens the product to use it.
What are the symptoms of a bacterial infection?
Healthy people may not get sick, others may have mild skin rashes or ear or eye infections, according to WebMD. If you are sick or your immune system is weakened, the bacterium can cause a serious infection. People with cystic fibrosis, cancer, or burns can have life-threatening conditions.
The CDC recommends that you seek medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms after using the eye drops:
- Yellow, green, or clear discharge from the eye
- Pain or discomfort in the eyes
- Redness of the eye or eyelid
- Sensation of something in the eye (foreign body sensation)
- Increased sensitivity to light
- blurred vision
Of the 55 reported cases, 11 developed an eye infection, three of whom lost sight in one eye. Others had respiratory or urinary tract infections, according to NBC News, and one died when the bacterium entered the bloodstream. It is unclear whether these patients had underlying eye conditions that may have made them more susceptible to infections.