Drug-Resistant Bacteria Linked To Indian Eye Drops Can Spread Person To Person: Report

A drug-resistant bacteria linked to Indian eye drops can spread from person to person. According to a report citing infectious disease experts, the strain had never been detected in the United States.

Three deaths, eight cases of blindness, and dozens of infections have been linked to EzriCare Artificial Tears eyedrops manufactured by Chennai-based Global Pharma Healthcare. ( Image Source :ezricare-info.com )

A highly drug-resistant bacteria that was linked to eye drops imported from India can spread from person to person, the top medical watchdog in the United States has expressed deep concern over the spread of the infection, the New York Times reported on Monday.

On March 21, the United States' top health agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that it was investigating a multi-state outbreak of an extensively drug-resistant strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a type of germ that can cause infections in humans.

The CDC is concerned that the highly drug-resistant bacteria linked to the Indian eyedrops could spread to the United States.

According to the newspaper, infectious disease specialists said the strain had not previously been detected in the United States and was particularly difficult to treat with existing antibiotics.

Global Pharma Healthcare, which is located about 40 kilometres south of Chennai, halted production of eyedrops for the US market in February. It has also voluntarily recalled all unexpired lots of EzriCare Artificial Tears and Delsam Pharma's Artificial Tears at the consumer level.

The India-made brand of eyedrops was the latest pharmaceutical product from the country to be scrutinised, following dozens of deaths among children in Gambia and Uzbekistan linked to cough syrups last year.

According to the US Food and Drug Administration, using contaminated artificial tears increases the risk of eye infections that can lead to blindness or death.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a bacteria that can cause infections in the blood, lungs, or wounds, and it has become more difficult to treat in recent years due to antibiotic resistance.

"Patients who have used EzriCare or Delsam Pharma's artificial tears and have signs or symptoms of an eye infection should seek medical care immediately," the CDC said in its most recent update on the matter on March 21 on its website.