Deadly Bacteria in Recalled Eyedrops May Spread from Person to Person, CDC Warns

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the U.S. has identified 68 cases of a deadly bacteria strain linked to contaminated eyedrops that have caused infection and blindness. The bacteria, called Pseudomonas aeruginosa, is a well-known type that has been around for years. However, this new strain is resistant to almost all available treatments and has not been seen in the U.S. until recently. Three people have died, and eight have needed corneal transplants, with the CDC warning that more cases may emerge.

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The contaminated eyedrops were imported from India, with the brand most commonly reported among those who fell ill being EzriCare artificial tears. Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Tears and Artificial Eye Ointment have also been recalled. The investigation is ongoing, with more than half of the cases being found in long-term healthcare facilities.

The new strain of the bacteria is called carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa with Verona integron-mediated metallo-β-lactamase and Guiana extended-spectrum-β-lactamase, which describes how its genes have transformed to make it more drug-resistant over time. The CDC’s investigation revealed that the infections linked to the eyedrops may be treated by only one known antibiotic, called cefiderocol.

Although eye infections have been the most common, the bacteria can move into the respiratory tract and lead to pneumonia, making it even more dangerous. It can affect any tissue in the body and travel through the blood, causing sepsis. Even otherwise healthy people can spread the bacteria without knowing they carry it on their skin.

The risk of antibiotic resistance is increasing, with the mutated strain of Pseudomonas highlighting this growing danger. Infectious disease experts have warned that bacteria have been on the planet much longer than humans, and over millions and millions of years, they have evolved mechanisms to survive.

The CDC has advised anyone who may have used the contaminated eyedrops to pay attention to unusual symptoms and to seek medical attention if they experience any.