CDC: Artificial Tears Products Linked to Drug-Resistant Infection, Some Cases Resulting in Death, Eye Removal

Public health authorities are investigating an outbreak of bacterial infections believed to be associated with “artificial tears” eye drop usage.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced it is working with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other state and local health authorities to investigate a strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa that the agency says is “extensively drug-resistant.”

The CDC wrote that the strain, called VIM-GES-CRPA, had not previously been seen in the United States but has now been identified in 68 patients across 16 states, with 37 cases linked to four healthcare facility clusters.

Of these cases, three deaths have been reported. In multiple cases, vision loss has been observed, and the surgical removal of a patient’s eyeball has been necessary.

EzriCare or Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Tears have been identified as a common exposure, and the CDC advised consumers and physicians to discontinue the use of these products for now. However, the agency noted that over ten other brands have been associated with the cases it has found.

"However, the agency noted that over ten other brands have been associated with the cases it has found"

Of course the crappily written article doesn't see fit to actually LIST those other ten brands...

I found a different article with a list, but only of six:

EzriCare Artificial Tears Lubricant Eye Drops: According to the CDC, this product was implicated as a common factor in 37 of the 68 logged cases so far. Potentially tainted eye drops can be identified with the following manufacturing codes listed on its packaging; NDC 79503-0101-15 and UPC 3 79503 10115 7.

Delsam Pharma Artificial Tears Lubricant Eye Drops: Also linked to current bacterial infections, this product is also manufactured by Global Pharma Healthcare. Recalled products can be identified using packaging codes NDC 72570-121-15 and UPC 3 72570 12115 8.

Delsam Pharma Artificial Eye Ointment: Produced by the same manufacturer, Delsam's topical ointment hasn't been linked to current cases as recorded by the CDC, but is being recalled due to "possible microbial contamination." While it's not technically an eye drop product, implicated tubes of ointment (which is used on skin in proximity to the eye) can be identified with the NDC 72570-122-35 and UPC code 3 72570 12235 3.

Clear Eyes Once Daily, Eye Allergy Itch Relief: Not officially linked to any bacterial infection cases being traced by the CDC, the FDA has indicated this brand's manufacturer, Teva Pharmaceuticals, is recalling certain batches of this popular eye drop product due to a "failed impurities" test. This recall includes over 700,000 bottles with expiration dates reaching into late 2023 and early 2024 in the following lots: Lot 114349, Lot 117396, Lot 0120128, Lot 114371, and Lot 123781. According to the Miami Herald, shoppers are being encouraged to return implicated eye drops to a point of purchase for a full refund. Teva Pharmaceuticals have set up a recall hotline at 888-838-2872 for shoppers who have additional questions.

Purely Soothing 15% MSM Drops: An official FDA recall notice indicates that this product has yet to be linked to any illnesses or injuries related to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Its manufacturers have indicated that two lots of this product may not be sterile. These products, made in 1oz and .5oz sizes, can be identified using lot codes and UPC information. Implicated products display the following identifiers: LOT#: 2203PS01, UPC 7 31034 91379 9; and LOT#: 1808051, UPC 7 31034 91382 9.

Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solution, 0.15%: A special tool designated for those with glaucoma or ocular hypertension, a small subset of these eye drops are being voluntarily recalled as faulty caps may lead to unsterile solutions that may cause similar symptoms. The manufacturer's FDA recall indicates affected drops were distributed between April 2022 and February 2023 across the nation, with expiration dates that range into 2024. They can be identified by NDC numbers listed on the carton and packaging labels, which include 60505-0564-1, 60505-0564-2 and 60505-0564-3.

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