Antibiotic-resistant aeruginosa … There is only one antibiotic that can be treated
In the United States, patients who used artificial tears infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a type of bacteria, have died so far, 8 have received corneal transplants, and 4 have had one eye removed.
According to a report by NBC News on the 9th (local time), the number of victims continues to increase following the death of one person was known in early February.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the deadly bacteria that causes infections and blindness associated with the recalled Ezrecare artificial tears won’t be found in the United States until 2022, and more cases are expected to be reported.
CDC identified 68 new cases of P. aeruginosa strains in 16 states. More than half were found in long-term care facilities.
A CDC investigation found that infections associated with these eye drops might be treated with only one antibiotic known as sepidecol.
What makes this bacterium so dangerous is its drug resistance. Because the eyes are directly connected to the nasal passages, bacteria can migrate into the respiratory tract and lead to pneumonia. “As Pseudomonas aeruginosa travels through the blood, it can affect almost any tissue in the body and can cause sepsis,” said Dr. Guillermo Amesqua of the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami.
