Recall alert: Vision loss, death connected to EzriCare Artificial Tears
Key Takeaways
Immediately stop using and prescribing EzriCare Artificial Tears due to bacteria contamination.
The bacteria found in EzriCare Artificial Tears is drug-resistant and connected to one death.
Ask patients if they use or have used EzriCare Artificial Tears.
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.[]
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:[]
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.
What this means for you
Be prepared for patients to contact you after hearing this news. You should also immediately alert all patients possibly using Ezricare Artificial tears.
This is a developing story.