Eye drop recall announced due to possible bacteria contamination

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Eye drop recall overview: 

• Who: Global Pharma Healthcare voluntarily recalled its Artificial Tears Lubricant Eye Drops. 
• Why: The product may be contaminated with bacteria and has been tentatively associated with a multistate outbreak of potentially deadly eye infections.
• Where: The eye drops were distributed nationwide. 

Global Pharma Healthcare recalled all lots of its Artificial Tears Lubricant Eye Drops after it discovered a multistate cluster of infections causing blindness and even death “possibly associated” with the product.

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) website published the recall notice Feb. 2. It applies to all lots of Artificial Tears Lubricant Eye Drops distributed to consumers.

According to the eye drop recall, there have been 55 reports of adverse events in the infection cluster to date, including eye infections, permanent loss of vision and death.

“Use of contaminated artificial tears can result in the risk of eye infections that could result in blindness,” the recall states.

Safety watchdogs investigating eyedrop contamination, recall states

The FDA and Global Pharma Healthcare initiated the recall after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) alerted the FDA to a cluster of infections possibly associated with the use of the Global Pharma Healthcare Artificial Tears Lubricant Eye Drops.

The CDC observed 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) infections, it says. 

Global Pharma Healthcare distributed the product over the internet, it says. 

Global Pharma Healthcare notified the distributors of the product, Aru Pharma Inc. and Delsam Pharma, and requests that wholesalers, retailers and customers who have the recalled product stop using it immediately.

To identify if you have the affected artificial tears product, click here for box photos and UPC codes for each distributor. 

The company is not currently facing legal action over the recall, but Top Class Actions follows recalls closely as they sometimes lead to class action lawsuits.

Last year, Allergan agreed to pay nearly $30 million to resolve class action claims it used anti-competitive tactics to raise the price of Restasis eye drops. 

If you or a loved one suffered from a bacterial infection, vision loss, injury or death after using EzriCare eye drops, you may qualify to participate in an EzriCare contamination lawsuit investigation.

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