The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Tuesday that three people have died, and four others had their irises removed, due to a rare bacterial infection linked to contaminated eye drops.
The agency has identified 68 patients in 16 states with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a type of bacteria resistant to most antibiotics. Eight patients have lost at least one eyesight. Some have had to undergo corneal transplants.
Most said they had used a variety of eye drops before becoming ill, but Azricare Artificial Tears was the most commonly reported. Those drops, along with Delsum Pharma’s Artificial Tears and its Artificial Eye Ointment, have since been recalled.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria are commonly found in water and soil and in the hands of otherwise healthy people. Infection usually occurs in hospital settings in people with weakened immune systems. The CDC reported that 37 patients were linked to four healthcare facility outbreaks.
The agency said this particular drug-resistant strain of bacteria had never been seen in the United States before this outbreak.
Not all patients had eye infections. Others were found to have respiratory or urinary tract infections. Death can occur if the bacteria enter the bloodstream.
The CDC first alerted the public to the potential threat in a statement released on January 20. It is now working with the Food and Drug Administration and state health departments to identify additional cases.
According to the CDC, people should seek medical care if they have symptoms of an eye infection, including:
- Yellow, green, or clear discharge from the eye.
- Eye pain or discomfort.
- Redness of the eye or eyelid.
- A feeling of something in your eye (foreign body sensation).
- Increased sensitivity to light.
- blurry vision.