A brand of eye drops is believed to be linked to a bacterial infection that caused the death of one person and permanent vision loss in three others, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States.
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Experts have identified 50 cases of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an antibiotic-resistant bacteria, spread across 11 US states. According to the US agency, the majority of sufferers would have used the brand’s eye drops EzriCare Artificial Tears before developing the infection.
Among the cases listed, 11 people developed eye infections and three of them went blind in one eye.
One person died when the bacteria entered their bloodstream.
The bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa is usually found in water, soil and the hands of people who have handled contaminated objects. These infections are common in hospitals among patients who have weakened immune systems.
It is possible that the contamination of the drops occurred during the production of the product or when the bottle was opened by someone who had the bacteria on their skin.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention is asking patients and healthcare professionals to stop using the product while testing is complete.
With information from FOX News