Home News Pseudomonas Alert in EzriCare Artificial Tears; Company Advises Discontinuing Use

Pseudomonas Alert in EzriCare Artificial Tears; Company Advises Discontinuing Use

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Health Alert Network advisory on Feb. 1, after 55 people in 12 states reported developing Pseudomonas aeruginosa from using artificial tears. Although 10 brands were noted, the majority of patients reported using EzriCare Artificial Tears, a preservative-free, over-the-counter product. CDC laboratory testing confirmed the presence of the outbreak strain in some opened EzriCare bottles, the health advisory states.

The CDC is recommending that patients and health care providers should immediately discontinue using EzriCare artificial tears pending additional guidance from CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

EzriCare Statement

On the same day, EzriCare, based in New Jersey, issued a statement recommending that patients discontinue the use of EzriCare until more information is available. The company also “immediately took action to stop any further distribution or sale of EzriCare Artificial Tears. To the greatest extent possible, we have been contacting customers to advise them against continued use of the product. We also immediately reached out to both CDC and FDA and indicated our willingness to cooperate with any requests they may have of us.”

Global Pharma Healthcare PVT Limited in India manufactures the products, and Aru Pharma Inc imports it into the U..S.  It may be sold under different brands. EzriCare notes in its statement that its role “in introducing the product to the market was to design an exterior label and to market it to our customers. EzriCare, LLC had no role in the formulation, packaging delivery system design or actual manufacturing of this product.”

A number of the patients mentioned in the CDC advisory presented with keratitis, and the CDC is encouraging those patients who are currently using EzriCare Artificial Tears  to be on the lookout for signs and symptoms of infection. These include “discharge from the eye, eye pain or discomfort, redness of the eye or eyelid, feeling of something in the eye, increased sensitivity to light or blurry vision,” according to the health advisory. The CDC also encourages providers to consider testing patients with keratitis, especially if they are using this product. At this time, the agency is not recommending widespread testing of asymptomatic patients who use this product.

Read More

Read the CDC Health Alert Network advisory here. An advisory is the second highest level of notification. The CDC says advisories provide “important information for a specific incident or situation; may not require immediate action.”

Read the statement from EzriCare here.

Read more News from Women In Optometry.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.

- Advertisment -

Most Popular

SUNY Researcher Publishes Children’s Eye Development Study

SUNY College of Optometry announced that Jingyun Wang, OD, Associate Professor and Director of the Pediatric Vision Research Lab, published a study in Ophthalmic...

NECO Unveils Five-year Strategic Plan: The Future InSight

New England College of Optometry (NECO) announced the launch of its 2025–2030 strategic plan, The Future InSight, a roadmap designed to revolutionize optometric education,...

The Vision Council Advocates for the Vision Industry During White House Meeting

Representatives from The Vision Council met with Robin Colwell, Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of the National Economic Council, at the White...

CORE Launches SustainableEyecare.com, Shares Recycling and Disposal Solutions

The Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) at the University of Waterloo has launched SustainableEyecare.com. The website is designed to educate eye care...