A brand of over-the-counter eye drops may be linked to a bacterial infection that left one person dead and three others with permanent vision loss, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC has identified at least 50 people in 11 states with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a type of bacteria resistant to most antibiotics. So far there have been cases in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Texas, Utah and Washington.
The agency said it was investigating and that a majority of those affected reported using preservative-free EzriCare Artificial Tears prior to becoming infected, according to a Jan. 20 statement.
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Among the reported cases, 11 people developed eye infections, including at least three who went blind in one eye.
Others who became ill had respiratory or urinary tract infections, and one person died after the bacterium entered their bloodstream.
A brand of over-the-counter eye drops may be linked to a bacterial infection that has killed one person and left three others with permanent vision loss, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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It currently remains unclear whether those affected had underlying eye conditions, such as glaucoma or cataracts, that would have made them more susceptible.
Symptoms of an eye infection include pain, swelling, discharge, redness, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, and feeling like something is getting stuck in the eye.
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Pseudomonas aeruginosabacteria are commonly found in water, soil, and on the hands of otherwise healthy people. These infections typically occur in hospitals in people with compromised immune systems.
This type of bacteria is often resistant to standard antibiotics.
The CDC has identified at least 50 people in 11 states with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a type of bacteria resistant to most antibiotics.
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The eye drops in question are labeled as preservative-free, which means that the product contains nothing that could prevent microbiological growth.
It’s possible that the drops were contaminated during the manufacturing process or when a person with the bacteria on their skin opened the container.
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The CDC discovered the bacteria in the eyedrop bottles and is conducting tests to see if these bacteria match the strain found in patients.
Symptoms of an eye infection include pain, swelling, discharge, redness, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, and feeling like something is getting stuck in the eye.
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EzriCare Artificial Tears had not been recalled as of Tuesday evening.
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The CDC recommends that physicians and patients stop using the product until testing and laboratory analysis are complete.