health

Global Pharma Healthcare announces voluntary recall of its Artificial Tears Lubricant Eye Drops

According to NBC News, the manufacturer of the eye drops that are sold under the brand name EzriCare withdrew them on Thursday due to a potential contamination caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a type of bacteria that is typically resistant to medications.

The EzriCare artificial tears have been linked to at least 55 bacterial infections in twelve states in the United States. Five of those people have suffered from sight loss thus far.

One person died when the bacterium entered the bloodstream.

The voluntary recall of Global Pharma Healthcare's Artificial Tears Lubricant Eye Drops was made public on Thursday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a warning for individuals to immediately stop using the eye drops, prompting the recall.

Global Pharma Healthcare stated in its recall announcement, "The product was distributed nationwide in the USA over the internet."

The drops are distributed by EzriCare and Delsam Pharma. EzriCare asserted that it "had no role in the formulation, packaging delivery method, or actual production of this medicine" in a statement released on Wednesday. The company claims that all it did was design the label for the product and sell it.

On Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) made the announcement that it is working on the problem in conjunction with officials from state and local health departments, the Food and Drug Administration, and other organizations. The majority of patients claimed to have used these eye drops before becoming ill.

Cases have been reported in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The bacterium was found in the eye drop bottles by CDC researchers, who are currently testing to see if it is the same strain that was found in patients. Whether the contamination occurred during manufacturing or when customers opened the bottles is unknown.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria can also infect otherwise healthy individuals.

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