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Eye Drops Recalled After Reports of Vision Loss and Death

A woman using eye drops

The manufacturer of Ezricare Artificial Tears has recalled their brand of over-the-counter eye drops after the products were linked to a strain of drug-resistant bacteria that could result in vision loss or even death.

According to a report in The New York Times, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said that the bacteria strain linked to EzriCare Artificial Tears had been found in 55 people in a dozen states.

Dangerous Eye Drops: Details of the Recall

The CDC has advised consumers to stop using the eye drops as the agency investigates an outbreak of a strain of the bacteria pseudomonas aeurginosa, which could cause serious infections in the blood, lungs, and other parts of the body.

This strain of bacteria had never been identified in the United States before this current outbreak and is resistant to a class of antibiotics called carbapenems, which are usually considered a last resort.

The agency reported that the bacterial infections caused one death, vision loss in five of 11 people who had eye infections, and a few hospitalizations. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the recall also includes Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Tears, which are made by Global Pharma.

Most of the people affected by the outbreak used artificial tears before the infections and had reported using more than 10 brands of the artificial tears, the CDC said.

Death, Hospitalizations, and Vision Loss Reported

The agency stated that it had found the drug-resistant bacteria strain in opened bottles of the EzriCare eye drops collected from patients with and without eye infections. The agency is testing unopened bottles to determine whether the contamination happened during the manufacturing process.

The bacteria strain was found in consumers who used the products in 12 states, including California, between May 2022 and January. Of the 55 reported cases, 35 were linked to four healthcare facility clusters, the CDC said.

If you have used EzriCare Artificial Tears and are experiencing symptoms of an eye infection, it is crucial that you seek medical care right away. Symptoms could include yellow, green, or clear discharge from the eye, redness of the eye or eyelid, heightened sensitivity to light, and eye pain.

Medical professionals advise that while using any type of eye drops, people should wash their hands, close the bottle after using it and not touch the tip, which could risk contamination. Do not touch the bottle to your eye, face, or nose.

EzriCare, which is based in New Jersey, has said that it did not manufacture the eye drops and was only involved in designing the product’s label and in marketing it to consumers. The company has also said it took immediate action to stop the distribution and sale of the eye drops after the CDC’s investigation began on Jan. 20.

What Are Drug-Resistant Infections?

Infections are said to be drug-resistant when the pathogens cause them to adapt and change over time, developing the ability to resist the drugs that are designed to kill them. Drug-resistant bacteria or antibiotic-resistant bacteria are those that are not controlled or killed by antibiotics. They are able to survive and even multiply in the presence of an antibiotic.

Bacteria that are resistant to many antibiotics are known as multi-resistant organisms (MRO). Some of the common ways in which bacteria can be transmitted among humans include contact with contaminated hands of hospital staff; contact with contaminated surfaces; and contact with contaminated equipment.

According to an analysis done by the CDC, nearly 30,000 people in the U.S. died in 2020 as a result of drug-resistant infections – 15% more than in 2019. While that increase was driven largely by the coronavirus pandemic, it doesn’t negate the fact that drug-resistant infections kill about 700,000 people each year globally. In 2019, the United Nations warned that without serious action, these infections could kill millions annually and set off a global economic crisis by the year 2050.

Dangerous and Defective Products

Manufacturers of drugs are required under the law to ensure that they follow all safety and sanitation protocols. When they fail to do so, serious contamination could occur in these products that could pose the risk of everything from side effects to death. In this particular case, the use of contaminated eye drops has resulted in hospitalizations, loss of vision (catastrophic injury), and death.

Those who suffer due to a dangerous or defective product may be able to file a lawsuit. If you or a loved one has been affected by these or other products, you may be able to seek compensation for damages, including medical expenses, lost income, cost of hospitalization, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, and emotional distress.

If you have lost a loved one due to a defective product, you may be able to seek compensation for medical expenses, funeral costs, lost future income, and loss of love, care, and companionship, by filing a wrongful death lawsuit. An experienced product defect lawyer will be able to advise you in such cases regarding your legal rights and options and also assist you with getting maximum compensation for your losses.

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