Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shared in an update on Thursday, May 18, that the outbreak of the contaminated eye drops containing a highly drug-resistant strain of bacteria has now been associated with four fatalities and 14 incidents of blindness.
The CDC's latest update revealed that they have identified a total of 81 patients across 18 states who have been infected with VIM-GES-CRPA, an uncommon drug-resistant strain of the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This includes an additional 13 patients since the CDC's previous update in March, indicating the continued spread of the infection. The CDC shared this information in a post on its official website.
Drug-Resistant Bacteria Contaminated Eye Drops
The recent outbreak has been caused by a strain of bacteria known as VIM-GES-CRPA, which is a carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa with Verona integron-mediated metallo-β-lactamase (VIM) and Guiana extended-spectrum-β-lactamase (GES). This highly drug-resistant strain had never been observed in the United States before this outbreak.
Health officials in the US have identified contaminated eye drops as the source of the bacteria. ARS Technica reported that the most commonly used product among the infected individuals during the outbreak was EzriCare artificial tears. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a recall of these eye drops in February after the CDC released a health alert linking them to 55 cases.
The CDC is particularly concerned about this outbreak strain due to its ability to quietly spread from person to person and share drug-resistance genes with other pathogens. The widespread introduction of this strain threatens efforts to prevent the emergence of highly resistant organisms.
Bacterial isolates collected during the outbreak have shown resistance to several antibiotic drugs, including carbapenems, fluoroquinolones, and polymyxins. However, the strain appears to still be susceptible to the drug cefiderocol, although doctors are advised to consult with specialists to determine treatment plans for this extensively drug-resistant pathogen.
Eye Drops Manufacturer Voluntarily Recalled Products
The Hill reported that EzriCare was the only product implicated in four clusters of infections within healthcare facilities. In response to the outbreak, the manufacturer Global Pharma has voluntarily recalled three of its products: EzriCare Artificial Tears, Delsam Pharma Artificial Tears, and Delsam Pharma Artificial Ointment. No other products have been associated with the outbreak at this time.
The CDC has advised the public to cease using these products until further guidance is provided by the agency or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Symptoms of an eye infection may include discharge that is yellow, green, or clear, eye pain or discomfort, redness of the eye or eyelid, sensation of a foreign object in the eye, increased sensitivity to light, and blurred vision.
Prior to the recalls, the contaminated eye drops were widely available across the country and sold through various retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, and eBay. Clinical samples indicate that the contamination has been present from at least May 2022 to April 2023. However, the CDC urges healthcare professionals to report any suspicious clinical samples dating back to January 2022.
RELATED ARTICLE: Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Bacteria Linked To Artificial Tears Eye Drops Under Investigation
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