CDC Warns of Dangerous Eye Infection from Tainted Eye Drops

The use of EzriCare had been linked to drug-resistant bacterial infections that might cause vision loss and even death, warned the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in February 2023. The reason behind this contamination is tainted bottles.

This week in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, an interdisciplinary group of researchers and physicians described a case from November 2022. The patient, a 72-year-old female, was diagnosed with a corneal ulcer, caused by infection by the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa ().

Eye Infections | Ocular Infections - Causes Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment
Eye infection is a common problem that often causes pain and discomfort to the eyes. Common symptoms of eye infection include pain, redness of eye or eyelids, eye discharge.

‘The CDC advised against using some artificial tear eye drops that were contaminated with the drug-resistant gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa.’

Tweet it Now

Eventually, infectious disease physicians and microbiologists identified her contaminated eye drops as the source of the infection. P. aeruginosa is a pathogenic, gram-negative bacterium that’s resistant to treatment with most antibiotics.

It can cause swimmer’s ear — a painful infection of the outer ear canal — and more serious conditions, especially in people with compromised immune systems. But the case in Cleveland was unusual.

The patient was initially reported to an outpatient eye clinic with blurry vision. From there, she was sent to the emergency department at the hospital, where she was evaluated by ophthalmologists.

Are Reusable Contact Lenses as Safe as Daily Disposable Contacts
Reusable Contact Lenses vs. Disposable Contacts: Wearing reusable contact lenses may increase the risk of a rare sight-threatening eye infection - Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK).

They cultured the infection, prescribed a combination of strong antibiotic eye drops, and sent her home. But the next day, the eye was worse—and she visited a cornea specialist. The patient had noticed a yellow discharge on her pillow, and she had not been swimming. At that point, she was referred to microbiologists and infectious disease experts at the hospital ().

A sample from the patient was sent to the lab at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Then, scientists identified a P. aeruginosa isolate that matched the genetic material found in the EzriCare artificial tear eye drops she had been using. Then researchers connected the eye infection—and the ulcer it had caused—to the contaminated drops.

Zika Virus in Tears: Possible Clinical Implications
Researchers have found evidence of Zika virus in the eyes of mice, which may have several significant implications in humans.

Treatment was tricky because the isolate was resistant to any antibiotics that could be administered. She was treated instead by a strong antibiotic, cefiderocol, that has some activity against the gram-negative bacterium, as well as two other topical antibiotics. The injury to her eye improved, but it’s unclear whether the patient will ever regain total vision.

Since issuing the warning in February, the CDC has identified infectious cases due to P. aeruginosa as early as spring 2022. Although the contaminated product has been pulled from stores and can no longer be purchased, it may still pose a risk.

Simple Tips to Get Rid of Itchy Eyes
Eye allergies: Itchy eyes are a very common eye problem affecting a lot of people on a daily basis. Here are a few eye care tips to get instant relief from itchy eyes.

References:

Outbreak of Extensively Drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Associated with Artificial Tears - (https://www.cdc.gov/hai/outbreaks/crpa-artificial-tears.html)
A Dangerous Eye Infection From Tainted Eye Drops, Months Before the CDC’s Warning - (https://asm.org/Press-Releases/2023/May/A-dangerous-eye-infection-from-tainted-eye-drops,)

Source-Eurekalert