In the US, a fourth person has died after being exposed to drug-resistant bacteria found in eye drops.
The bacteria has infected 81 people, including four deaths and 14 blindness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
That was up from three deaths and eight cases of vision loss reported in March.
The outbreak was caused by a bacterium called Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is resistant to standard antibiotics.
Most of the patients used certain brands of eye drops, as well as products from EzriCare and Delsam Pharma, investigators said.
The products were recalled in February, and at least seven patients were diagnosed after the recall.
EzriCare said in February: “We are not aware of any tests that definitively link Pseudomonas aeruginosa outbreaks to EzriCare artificial tears.
“Nevertheless, we are taking immediate action to cease further distribution or sale of EzriCare Artificial Tears.”
EzriCare products are manufactured by Global Pharma Healthcare in India and sold primarily online.
After the recall, US health inspectors inspected the factory and found that there were problems in the production and testing of the eye drops, including inadequate aseptic measures.
What is Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection?
Pseudomonas is a type of bacteria commonly found in the environment, soil or groundwater, according to the CDC.
One of these pseudomonas – Pseudomonas aeruginosa – causes infection in humans.
The bacteria can cause infections in the blood, lungs and other parts of the body.
“These bacteria are constantly finding new ways to avoid the effects of antibiotics used to treat the infections they cause,” the CDC writes on its website.
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“Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria no longer respond to the antibiotics designed to kill them.
“If they become resistant to several antibiotics, these bacteria can become multidrug resistant.”
Some symptoms of an eye infection include eye pain or discomfort, discharge from the eye, redness of the eye, blurred vision, and increased sensitivity to light.
Where are outbreaks found?
Cases have been reported in 18 U.S. states so far us:
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Illinois
• North Carolina
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• Nevada
• New York
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• South Dakota
• Texas
• Utah
• Washington
• the state of Wisconsin
The CDC warns anyone who has recently used these products to seek medical attention immediately.
“Make sure that these recalled products don’t exist anymore,” Maroya Spalding Walters, head of the antimicrobial resistance team at the CDC, said in an interview, according to NBC News. , not hidden on the shelf.”
“Anytime a product is recalled, there’s always the possibility that it’s still in the home and used for months or years to come.”