Updated: CDC Recommends Immediate Discontinuation of EzriCare Artificial Tears

*This news has been updated, please click the link to see the updated version.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended immediate discontinuation of the use of EzriCare Artificial Tears, an OTC drop for dry eye, after linking various infections with the drops.

The CDC issued a statement stating that it is "investigating a multistate cluster of Verona Integron‐mediated Metallo‐β‐lactamase (VIM)‐ and Guiana‐Extended Spectrum‐β‐Lactamase (GES)‐ producing carbapenem‐resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (VIM‐GES‐CRPA) associated with multiple different infection types, including eye infections."

According to the CDC, recent epidemiology and laboratory data link these infections to the use of EzriCare Artificial Tears (carboxymethylcellulose Sodium 10 mg).

From May 17, 2022, to January 19, 2023, the CDC, in collaboration with state and local health authorities, identified 56 isolates from 50 VIMGESCRPA cases from 11 states (CA, CO, CT, FL, NJ, NM, NY, NV, TX, UT, WA); 38 cases are part of four facility clusters.

Isolates were identified from clinical cultures of cornea (10), sputum or bronchial wash (11), urine (6), other nonsterile sources (4), and blood (2), and from rectal swabs (23) collected for surveillance.

These samples were taken in both outpatient and inpatient settings. According to the CDC, patient outcomes include permanent vision loss due to eye infection, hospitalization, and the death of one patient with bloodstream infection.

The CDC advises doctors and patients to stop using EzriCare Artificial Tears immediately until the epidemiological investigation and laboratory investigations are completed.