California: Indian pharma company has recalled its consignment of eye drops from the US market. Recently, the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) appealed to the people to immediately stop the purchase and use of this drug.
The CDC claims that a specific infection is spreading through eye drops manufactured by Chennai-based pharmaceutical company Global Pharma Healthcare.
America's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers and health care practitioners not to purchase and immediately stop using EzriCare Artificial Tears due to potential bacterial contamination.
Bacteria infects human blood, lungs and other organs
This bacteria infects human blood, lungs and other organs. So far 55 people have been infected by it, while one person has died. Apart from this, 11 people have lost their eyesight.
Using contaminated artificial tears increases the risk of eye infections that could result in blindness or death.
FDA is collaborating with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local health departments to investigate a multi-state outbreak involving a rare, extensively drug-resistant strain of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa bacteria.
CDC issued an alert recommending consumers stop using EzriCare Artificial Tears pending additional guidance from CDC and FDA.
CDC is testing unopened bottles of eye drops
Currently, the CDC is testing unopened bottles of the eye drops to help narrow down at what point the bacteria could have ended up contaminating the products.
Regardless of how the Pseudomonas Aeruginosa got into the artificial tears solution, the fact that the EzriCare product is reportedly preservative-free likely played a role in helping it grow and spread, experts said.
All lots of eye drops have been recalled
Manufacturer Global Pharma Healthcare has issued a statement saying that all the lots of eye drops have been recalled before they expire.
According to health experts, in today's time it has become very difficult to cure the infection of seudomonas Aeruginosa. This bacteria has become more dangerous than before. Now even with normal medicines, it cannot be treated easily. This bacteria can also spread in water and soil.