CDC warns against possible "extensively drug-resistant" bacteria in popular artificial tears

Consumers have reported vision loss; one death possibly linked to product.

Published: February 2, 2023 1:10pm

Updated: February 2, 2023 1:20pm

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday night issued a grim warning about a possible super-resistant bacterial strain allegedly infecting artificial tears around the country, urging consumers to discard those products or risk serious side effects.

The CDC said in its Wednesday dispatch that it had become aware of " infections with an extensively drug-resistant strain" of bacteria potentially found in "more than 10 different brands of artificial tears," the brand EzriCare most prominent among them.

CDC testing "identified the presence of the outbreak strain in opened EzriCare bottles with different lot numbers collected from two states," the agency said.

Reported outcomes from the outbreak include "permanent vision loss resulting from cornea infection, hospitalization, and one death due to systemic infection," the CDC claimed.

Consumers "should immediately discontinue using EzriCare artificial tears pending additional guidance from CDC and the Food and Drug Administration," the dispatch declared.