Quixplained: why US red-flagged India-made eyedrops

Chennai-based Global Pharma Healthcare has suspended production of its eyedrops after US health regulator linked them to vision loss in the country.

US officials are investigating possible contamination in Ezricare Artificial Tears eyedrops which they say may have caused infections in the eye, blood, lungs and urine. Eye drops are used to treat irritation and dryness.

According to disease investigators, the infections were all caused by a bacteria called Pseudomonas aeruginosa. US officials have said the bacteria strain causing the infections is 'extensively resistant' to standard anti-biotics.

Investigators found the bacteria were not susceptible to any antibiotics routinely tested at public health laboratories. However, a newer antibiotic named cefiderocol did seem to work.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in a statement said that the bacteria was found in open bottles of Ezricare Artificial Tears and it is now probing the presence of bacteria in unopened bottles.

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

How could eye drops possibly infect the blood or lungs?

The eye connects to the nasal cavity through tear ducts and bacteria can move from the nasal cavity into the lungs. Also, bacteria in these parts of the body can seed infections at other sites such as in the blood or wounds, CDC officials said.

(with PTI inputs)