THE SUN
AN OUTBREAK of drug-resistant bacterial eye infections has left a trail of victims, experts have warned.
Three people have died and four have had to have their eyeballs removed after contracting the rare superbug.
The incidents have all been linked back to artificial tears found to be contaminated with a rare and extremely drug resistant strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria.
The eye drops were bought in pharmacies across the US – they are not sold in the UK.
People with dry eyes often use artificial tears, as do those who wear contact lenses.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa – which is associated with multiple kinds of infections – has never been reported in the US prior to this outbreak, but has surfaced in sixteen states since January this year.
As of March 14, 68 people were infected with the rare bacterium, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported.
And so far, three people have died, eight have lost their vision in one or both their eyes and four have had their eyeballs surgically removed.
Most of these patients reported using artificial tears.
Up to 10 brands were mentioned but EzriCare Artificial Tears, a preservative-free over-the-counter product, was the one most commonly reported.
