Two more people died, and a nationwide outbreak linked to eye drops recalled from EzriCare and Delsam has revealed details of a terrifying eye infection.
The current death toll is 3, according to this week’s outbreak update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A total of 68 people in 16 states were infected with rare widespread drug-resistant bacteria. Pseudomonas aeruginosa Tension associated with eye drops. In addition to the deaths, 8 reported vision loss and 4 had their eyes surgically removed (enucleation).
In a case report published this week in JAMA Ophthalmology, ophthalmologists at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, part of the University of Miami Health System, reported details of one case linked to the outbreak. I have an ongoing infection in my right eye with blindness despite weeks of treatment with multiple antibiotics. When the man first sought medical attention, he had 20/20 vision in his left eye, but had pain in his right eye and only had the ability to detect movement at that point. was completely red, and white blood cells were visibly pooled in the cornea and in the inner chamber in front of the eye.
male eye was positive Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain It was resistant to multiple antibiotics, as was the bottle of EzriCare artificial tear drops he was using. After further testing, doctors changed the man’s treatment regimen so that he would use antibiotics every hour to which the strain of bacteria was least resistant. At follow-up after 1 month, the man’s eyes had improved in redness and infiltration in his eyes. But to this day, doctors report that the infection persists and vision loss continues. (Here’s an image of his right eye at the initial presentation and a one-month follow-up.)
growing outbreak
CDC identified the outbreak strain as VIM-GES-CRPA, which stands for carbapenem-resistant bacteria. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA) Verona integron-mediated metallo-beta-lactamase (VIM) and Guiana extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase (GES). This is a large drug-resistant strain that has not been seen in the United States prior to the outbreak. CDC officials say outbreaks become more common for these types of infections because the bacteria can colonize people asymptomatically, spread to others, and share resistance genes. I am afraid that
Officials believe the outbreak strain was brought into the country in contaminated eye drops manufactured by Global Pharma, a manufacturer based in Chennai, India. The Food and Drug Administration reports there have been numerous manufacturing violations. The eye drops were imported into the country by Aru Pharma Inc. and branded and marketed by EzriCare and Delsam Pharma. Products were available nationwide through Amazon, Walmart, eBay, and other retailers.
ABC News on Thursday reported another case treated by doctors at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. In this case, a 68-year-old Miami woman lost her eye after using her EzriCare drops.Clara Oliva, a woman, developed an infection in her right eye last August and was taken to the emergency medical lab for severe pain that felt like a shard of glass had gotten into her eye. I discovered that pain was the cause Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infected, but not immediately linked to eye drops. Doctors attempted surgical repair of the eyeball, but found extensive, irreparable damage and feared the spread of drug-resistant infections. On September 1, she had her infected eye completely excised. Oliva, who remains legally blind due to her eyeball removal and reduced vision in her remaining eye, was on EzriCare eye drops until January when the CDC released her first advisory on the outbreak. I kept doing it. She is currently suing EzriCare, Global Pharma, the medical center that prescribed her her eye drops, and her insurance company.
Oliva isn’t the only one filing lawsuits. Last month, Houston-based attorney Jolie Lange, a food safety expert, filed two lawsuits on behalf of women affected by the outbreak.
“Unfortunately, I think it’s likely that this outbreak will continue to grow,” Lange told Ars. For one thing, people continue to be diagnosed, he said. It also encourages clinicians to look for infections from early last year.Currently, cases identified in the outbreak range from May 2022 to February 2023, but CDC advises clinicians to report drug resistance. Pseudomonas aeruginosa Cases dating back to January 2022.
