India-made eyedrops recalled after 55 infections, 1 death in US

An Indian company has recalled its eyedrops from the US after the country's health regulator said the medicine could be linked to 55 infections across 12 states and 1 death.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that Ezricare Artificial Tears eye drops could be contaminated with a drug-resistant bacteria that have been linked to reports of permanent vision loss and bloodstream infection.

The CDC is testing samples of eyedrops that are made in India by Chennai-based Global Pharma Healthcare.

Disease investigators said the infections were all caused by a bacteria called Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Investigators detected that kind of bacteria in open EzriCare bottles, but further testing was underway to see if the strains matched.

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EzriCare said it is not aware of any evidence definitively linking the outbreak to the product, but that it has stopped distributing the eye drops. It also has a notice on its website urging consumers to stop using the drops.

In its statement, Ezricare also said that it is only involved in marketing and designing the exterior label of the drug and has no role in the formulation, packaging delivery system design or actual manufacturing of this product.

(with AP inputs)