Recalled eye drops cause yet another death in the US: Which products have been affected?

More than 10 brands of artificial tears have been recalled due to the contamination with the bacteria of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is resistant to standard antibiotics.

While the recall was announced in February, the dangerous products continue to kill people and affect their health.

Sadly, a fourth person in the US has died from exposure to the bacteria found in the eye drops. In addition to that, 14 individuals have gone blind and four others had their eyes surgically removed.

The health authorities urge anyone who has used the products recently to seek medical care immediately.

Find out which eye drops have been affected by the recall and are not safe to apply.

Meanwhile, these popular cold and flu medicines have been removed from the shelves over a 'fatal' health condition in the UK and this cough syrup has been recalled over 'deadly' ingredient.

Which brands of drops have been recalled?

If you use one of these brands, you’re strongly advised to stop immediately as you risk losing your eyesight. Some of the products can also lead to a lethal outcome.

Global Pharma, the India-based company behind the contaminated products, on February 2 recalled all lots of its EzriCare and Delsam Pharma brands of ‘Artificial Tears Lubricant Eye Drops,’ which it said could contain bacteria.

The recall came after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began an investigation of a cluster of multistate bacterial infections it believed were associated with the tear drops.

At the time of the recall, there were 55 reports of adverse reactions to the drops, including eye infections, permanent vision loss and one death from a bloodstream infection.

Global Pharma on February 24 also recalled one batch of a product distributed by Delsam Pharma, ‘Artificial Eye Ointment,’ again due to possible microbial contamination.

Another manufacturer, Apotex, on March 1 recalled six lots of its own brand of glaucoma drops, called ‘Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solution, 0.15%,’ which is for patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

The company said it initiated the recall over concerns that cracks in some of the units' caps could compromise the drops' sterility and lead to infection.

Pharmaceutical firm Pharmedica USA on March recalled two lots of ‘Purely Soothing, 15% MSM Drops,’ also over sterility concerns.

Read more:

⋙ Eye drops linked to lethal infection urgently recalled: ‘Immediately stop using them’

How worried should you be?

As of May 15, the CDC had identified 81 patients across 18 US states who had been infected by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The bacteria, which occurs naturally in the environment, can spread to humans who are exposed to contaminated water or soil. It can also get passed from one person to another.

Drug-resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cause more than 30,000 infections annually among hospitalised patients in the US and more than 2,500 deaths.

Health authorities urge patients to immediately stop using the recalled eye drops, even if they haven't yet experienced an adverse reaction.

Patients who have previously used potentially unsafe products and those who currently use them should contact their doctor and ask for a safe substitute.

Read more:

⋙ New eye drop product recalled over risk of possible infection that 'could result in blindness'

⋙ Woman spends 54 years with something unusual stuck in her eye after doctors didn't believe her

Sources used:

- CBS News: 'Here's what you need to know about the flurry of eye drop recalls'

- Independent: 'Fourth person dies in US from bacteria linked to recalled eye drops'