An antibiotic-resistant bacteria found in multiple recalled eye drops have caused the death of three individuals.
According to their findings, 68 individuals in 16 states who used the contaminated eye drops were infected with bacteria. Along with the death of three individuals, eight individuals have gone blind, and four additional individuals have needed the surgical removal of an eyeball.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, explains the CDC,can cause infectionsin the blood, lungs (pneumonia), and other parts of the body after surgery.
Individuals who previously used the recalled eye drops should look out for symptoms such as yellow, green, or clear discharge from the eye, eye pain or discomfort, and redness of the eye or eyelid. The CDC advises that individuals who present symptoms should seek medical care immediately.
Most cases of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection were linked back to artificial tear eye drops. The EzriCare Artificial Tears lubricant, a preservative-free, over-the-counter product packaged in multidose bottles, was the brand most commonly reported in infection cases.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“Testing of unopened bottles of EzriCare Artificial Tears is ongoing to assist in evaluating for whether contamination may have occurred during manufacturing,” shared the CDC in Tuesday’s update. “Patients and healthcare providers should immediately stop the use of EzriCare Artificial Tears pending additional information and guidance from CDC and FDA.”
While contamination cases are rare, the CDC reports that the bacteriacaused an estimated 32,600 infectionsamong hospitalized patients and 2,700 estimated deaths in 2017.
source: people.com
