Deadly Drug-Resistant Bacteria Outbreak In IL Linked To Eyedrops: CDC

ILLINOIS — An outbreak of a rare strain of drug-resistant bacteria linked to over-the-counter eye drops led to a recall and prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue a health advisory for several states, including Illinois.

According to the updated CDC alert issued March 1, 64 patients in 13 states, including Illinois, were infected after using 10 different brands of artificial tears. One person has died, and eight patients have suffered vision loss.

Officials said infections were detected between May 2022 and January 2023. They were all caused by a bacteria called Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which was found in patients' eyes, blood, urine and lungs.

Health officials said the majority of patients reported using EzriCare Artificial Tears, a preservative-free, over-the-counter product packaged in multidose bottles. The CDC did not provide the specific names for the other nine artificial tears brands believed to be linked to the outbreak.

Lab tests conducted by the CDC identified the outbreak strain in opened bottles of EzriCare, and it was the only common product identified across four clusters of infections in healthcare facilities.

Officials at EzriCare said they were made aware of the investigation into the outbreaks on Jan. 20 and were not aware of any testing that definitively links the outbreak to their product. In a Feb. 1 statement from the company, EzriCare said they stopped distribution and sales of the product.

"To the greatest extent possible, we have been contacting customers to advise them against continued use of the product," EzriCare officials said in the statement. "We also immediately reached out to both CDC and FDA and indicated our willingness to cooperate with any requests they may have of us."

Infections were discovered in patients in Illinois, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin. One patient in Washington died after contracting a blood infection. At least three others in California and New Jersey suffered permanent vision loss, according to The Associated Press.

Though officials said the bacteria is extremely resistant to drug treatment, one medication called cefiderocol did work in treating some infections.

Officials said patients and healthcare providers should stop using EzriCare Artificial Tears products pending further guidance from the CDC.

The EzriCare Artificial Tears product is manufactured in India by Global Pharma Healthcare PVT Limited and imported to the United States, the company said. Global Pharma Healthcare officially issued a recall of the product on Monday.

"Global Pharma Healthcare is notifying the distributors of this product, Aru Pharma Inc. and Delsam Pharma and is requesting that wholesalers, retailers and customers who have the recalled product should stop use," the pharmaceutical company said in the recall statement.

Patients who have used EzriCare and who have signs or symptoms of an eye infection should seek immediate medical care. Eye infection symptoms may include:

• Yellow, green, or clear discharge from the eye
• Eye pain or discomfort
• Redness of the eye or eyelid
• A feeling of something in your eye
• Increased sensitivity to light
• Blurry vision

Two more brands recalled

News that the outbreak had spread to Illinois came just days before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the recall of two more eyedrop brands.

This week, the Food and Drug Administration posted separate recall notices for some eyedrops distributed by Pharmedica and Apotex after the companies voluntarily removed several lots of their products from shelves, the Associated Press reported.

There is no indication the latest recalls, which affect about 2,900 bottles of eyedrops manufactured in Arizona, are related to the drug-resistant infection outbreak.

Two lots of Pharmedica's Purely Soothing 15% MSM Drops were recalled for issues "that could result in blindness."

Apotex recalled six lots of prescription eyedrops distributed as Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solution. 0.15% used to treat glaucoma after finding cracks in bottle caps on the product.

Patch staffer Megan VerHelst contributed to this report