The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released an alert urging providers to discontinue prescribing and using EzriCare Artificial Tears after multiple patients have experienced infections. CDC testing confirmed the presence of a drug-resistant strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria in samples collected from two states, and as the story develops the manufacturer has issued a voluntary nationwide recall of the product.

Health alert network (Han) - 00485 | Outbreak of extensively drug-resistant pseudomonas aeruginosa associated with artificial tears.

More than 50 individuals, across 12 states, have been impacted. The patients have experienced a range of infections, including sepsis. Patients have been hospitalized and permanent vision loss has been recorded. One death has been connected to the eye drops.

Symptoms to watch

Symptoms patients may experience include:

Health alert network (Han) - 00485 | Outbreak of extensively drug-resistant pseudomonas aeruginosa associated with artificial tears.

• Eye pain

• Eye sensitivity or other eye sensations

• Discharge from the eye

• Vision changes

The CDC does not recommend testing patients for an infection unless they are experiencing symptoms.

Treatment

“Place patients infected or colonized with VIM-GES-CRPA and admitted to acute care settings in isolation and use contact precautions,” noted the CDC in the release.

The CDC also stated that this strain of bacteria is extremely drug-resistant, and specialists should be consulted for treatment recommendations.

This is a developing story.