US health officials have reported another death and several more cases of vision loss from illnesses linked to eye drops contaminated with drug-resistant bacteria.
The bacterium has infected 81 people, including four who have died and 14 who have lost their sight., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. That’s more than the three deaths and eight cases of vision loss reported in March. The CDC also said four people have had surgery to remove an eyeball due to infections.
The outbreak is considered particularly worrying because the bacteria that causes itPseudomonas aeruginosa, is resistant to standard antibiotics.
The researchers say most of the patients had used certain brands of eye drops, and the products from EzriCare and Delsam Pharma were withdrawn from the market in February. At least seven patients were diagnosed after the withdrawal.
After the recall, US health inspectors visited the plant in India that made the eye drops and they discovered problems with the way the drops were manufactured and tested, including inadequate sterility measures.
Cases have been reported in 18 states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin. .
The Associated Press Department of Health and Science receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Science and Educational Media Group.