The health authorities in the United States have set off the alarms for the population throughout the country after the number of patients seriously affected by using these eye drops will increase. The product has proven to be high risk because it is contaminated and has already claimed three lives, in addition to leaving several without sight.
There are more and more cases being reported of people who have suffered serious eye problems from using these drops, which have already been withdrawn from the market, but the authorities have released a statement to make it more than clear that, in case of having them at home should not be used under any circumstances.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released an updated alert on March 14, confirming that over-the-counter drops from EzriCare and Delsam Phama have already been linked to multiple cases across 16 states. United States and are a latent threat.
CDC Warning: Immediately stop using EzriCare Artificial Tears. The product was recalled in February. A report released this week identified 68 incidents in 16 states tied to a drug resistant bacteria found in Artificial Tears including vision loss, removal of eyeball, and death. pic.twitter.com/xRImmwy3cB
—Melissa (@Proudmimi12) March 18, 2023
“Three people have died and there have been 8 reports of vision loss and 4 reports of enucleation (surgical removal of the eyeball),” the agency said regarding the large number of cases reported in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. .
According to the CDC, it’s all the fault of a strain of the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is found in these drops, manufactured in India and “had never been reported in the United States before this outbreak,” which has seriously complicated the task. of the medical staff treating you.
Eye drops become a threat across the United States
In addition to this, the alert also clarifies that this strain of the bacteria has proven to be “extremely drug resistant” and that patients “reported more than 10 different brands of artificial tears and some patients used multiple brands” being EzriCare Artificial Tears. the most common.
“Patients who have used artificial tears from EzriCare or Delsam Pharma and who have signs or symptoms of an eye infection should seek medical attention immediately,” concludes the alert, which has been updated several times due to the constant increase in cases.