On Tuesday, March 14th, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-in conjunction with the Food and Drug Administration and other health departments-identified a link between 68 cases of a new strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and patients that used artificial tear brands: EzriCare and Delsam Pharma.
The CDC reported that this new strain of bacteria, P. aeruginosa (VIM-GES-CRPA), was unprecedented in the United States before this instance and is highly drug-resistant. This bacteria strain can cause harsh infections throughout the body. In a Health Alert Network Health Advisory issued by the CDC on February 1st, it notes infected patients may experience cornea infections that result in permanent vision damage, hospitalization and it even cites one death. Most infected patients also noted that they used EzriCare eye drops and/or Delsam Pharma eye ointment.
EzriCare and Delsam Pharma are both manufactured by Global Pharma Healthcare Private Limited. In February, the FDA warned consumers of potential infections and advised Global Pharma Healthcare to recall their products. The FDA also cited multiple manufacturing health violations within the company. On February 2nd, Global Pharma Healthcare issued a nationwide recall of their eye products.
As of this week, two more deaths were declared as results from this bacterial infection. There are also eight known cases of blindness and four cases of eye removal surgeries. The CDC also notes the bacteria has been found in 16 states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin.
Florida resident Clara Olivia, 68, recently became fully blind after she lost her one functioning eye to a P. aeruginosa (VIM-GES-CRPA) infection after being prescribed EzriCare eye drops. She is now filing a lawsuit against the company.
“Due to their irresponsibility, their negligence and their incompetence they’ve caused not only deaths, but they’ve affected my life and its entirety and my ability to be independent and live a normal life and there has to be justice,” Olivia said in an interview with ABC News.
Currently the CDC is recommending those to cease use of EzriCare and Delsam Pharma products. If patients were prescribed these products, they should contact their healthcare facilities. Symptoms of infections include eye discomfort (or a feeling of a foreign object in the eye), eye discharge, blurry vision and a sensitivity to light.
