Lubricant Eye Drops May Be Contaminated with Drug-Resistant Bacterial Infections, Causing Eye Injuries, Blindness, and Deaths.
Lubricant Eye Drops May Be Contaminated
The attorneys at Parker Waichman LLP, a national product injury law firm, are investigating potential lawsuits on behalf of victims who sustained eye injuries, blindness, or tragic death resulting from the artificial eye drops made by Global Pharmacy Healthcare. The eye drops were sold under brands including EzriCare Artificial Tears and Delsam Pharma Artificial Tears.
On February 2, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that Global Pharma Healthcare has issued a voluntary nationwide recall of Artificial Tears Lubricant Eye Drops, sold under the brand names EzriCare and Delsam Pharma. The recall, which extends to all lots within expiry, comes with a risk statement indicating that eye infections could result in blindness.
A possible contamination with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterium resistant to most antibiotics, prompted the recall. Because eye drops are preservative-free, they lack ingredients to prevent bacterial growth. In the immune-compromised, the bacterium can cause pneumonia and several serious infections.
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) alerted the FDA to an investigation and issued a public safety warning on January 31, 2023. The CDC also issued a health alert to doctors. According to multiple national news sources, the CDC referenced 55 infections in 12 states. Five of the infections resulted in permanent vision loss and at least one led to death.
In January, the FDA added Global Pharma to its “red list” of banned imports, due to multiple violations of FDA manufacturing regulations. According to the FDA, Global Pharma Healthcare is notifying all distributors of the product, including Aru Pharma Inc. and Delsam Pharma.
“Eye drops” is a broad term. Millions of people in the U.S. use eye drops, for conditions including dry eye, glaucoma, allergies and itchiness.
Free Legal Consultation for Victims of Contaminated EzriCare or Delsam Pharma Artificial Tears Eye Drops
If eye drops harmed you or a member of your family, call 1-800-YOUR-LAWYER (1-800-968-7529) to speak with one of our national product liability attorneys and receive a free consultation.
WHAT IS THE CONCERN WITH EZRICARE ARTIFICIAL TEARS AND OTHER LUBRICANT EYE DROPS?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s warning letter states that some batches of EzriCare Artificial Tears eye drops may be contaminated with Pseudomonas Aeruginosa. Pseudomonas Aeruginosa is a dangerous bacterium that is also antibiotic resistant. Pseudomonas Aeruginosa bacteria can be found in water, soil, and on the hands of healthy people. However, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa infections often occur in hospital settings and in people with weakened immune systems.
According to the CDC’s warning letter, several customers who used contaminated EzriCare Artificial Tears eye drops sustained severe injuries such as permanent vision loss, urinary tract infections, respiratory infections, and death. The person who perished after using the eye drops passed away after the bacterium entered their bloodstream. The CDC believes that people who had underlying eye conditions, such as glaucoma or cataracts, and used the EzriCare Artificial Tears eye drops were more sensitive to the bacterium. Pseudomonas Aeruginosa eye infection symptoms include swelling, blurry vision, light sensitivity, eye pain, swelling, discharge, redness, and a feeling of a foreign object in the eye.
The distributor’s website states that consumers should immediately discontinue the use of EzriCare Artificial Tears Lubricant Eye Drops (Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium, 10mg in 1mL) in ½ fl. oz (15mL) containers. Customers are also advised to visit the company’s product website for more information about this issue.
Update: On February 23, 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), issued an expanded warning last Tuesday concerning certain artificial tear products connected to bacterial contamination resulting in numerous cases of blindness and death. FDA’s advisory was updated to include products made by Global Pharma Healthcare Private Limited, including EzriCare Artificial Tears, Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Tears, and Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Eye Ointment. These eye lubricant products are meant to be used while sterile, and reportedly should not be used by consumers or healthcare professionals, according to FDA.
EzriCare initially recalled its artificial tear products at the request of FDA due to potentially life-threatening manufacturing violations. FDA has now identified additional issues concerning drug formulation, packaging, and insufficient microbial testing.
CDC had also issued a public warning against the use of EzriCare and Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Tears in the early part of February 2023, and investigated a potential connection between these products and 58 cases of a rare strain of drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterial infections across 13 states. Among these cases were five reported cases of vision loss and one death.
As of February 21, 2023, CDC identified a total of 58 patients in 13 states who have contracted Pseudomonas aeruginosawith Verona integron-mediated metallo-β-lactamase and Guiana extended-spectrum-β-lactamase (VIM-GES-CRPA) . Of these patients, 35 were linked to four healthcare facility clusters, and one person has died, with five reports of vision loss. Most of the ill patients who reported using the affected artificial tears were using EzriCare brand artificial tears. Laboratory testing by CDC identified the presence of VIM-GES-CRPA in opened EzriCare bottles from multiple lots, including those collected from patients with and without eye infections from two states. CDC is currently testing unopened bottles of EzriCare Artificial Tears to determine if contamination occurred during manufacturing.
Patients and healthcare providers are warned to immediately stop using EzriCare and Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Tears products and await further guidance from either CDC or FDA. Patients who suffered adverse effects using the eye products are asked to report those adverse reactions to FDA’s MedWatch program.
HAS THE “PRESERVATIVE-FREE” EZRICARE ARTIFICIAL TEARS PRODUCT BEEN RECALLED?
On February 2, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a voluntary nationwide recall by Global Pharma Healthcare of all of its Artificial Tears Lubricant Eye Drops, including EzriCare and Delsam Pharma. The recall extends to all unexpired lots.
WHAT CAUSED THE EYE DROPS TO BECOME CONTAMINATED WITH BACTERIA?
Lubricant eye drops
Dr. Jill Weatherhead, a professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, stated that Pseudomonas Aeruginosa bacteria are highly resistant to antibiotics, and standard medical treatment of these infections will not treat the dangerous infection. Moreover, EzriCare Artificial Tears and the other eye drops are preservative-free. This means that these eye drops do not contain chemicals that prevent microbiological growth. So if the preservative-free eye drops become contaminated due to the manufacturing process, the bacterium can grow inside the container. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discovered the Pseudomonas Aeruginosa bacteria in some bottles of the EzriCare Artificial Tears eye drops, and the agency is currently testing bottles to find out if the bacteria in the bottles match the strain found in the ill people.
HAS THERE BEEN AN ARTIFICIAL TEARS LAWSUIT?
This issue has just been made public and it is believed that there will be numerous lawsuits seeking monetary compensation harmed caused by this product. Some of the product liability cases will likely allege that these eye drops were contaminated and caused loss of vision or death. If you or a loved one have been harmed by EzriCare Artificial Tears or other eye drops, it is important that you or your loved one does not delay in seeking information and legal advice. The time to file a claim is limited by state law. In some states, that deadline is as short as one year.
WHAT IS PARKER WAICHMAN’S EXPERIENCE WITH SUING FOR DAMAGES FROM THE USE OF EZRICARE EYE DROPS?
Parker Waichman LLP has obtained more than two billion dollars in settlements and jury awards concerning injury and death cases on behalf of victims who have been harmed by dangerous consumer products. Parker Waichman has been representing injury victims and families who loved ones due to dangerous products for more than 40 years, and we have successfully litigated thousands of major cases against pharmaceutical manufacturers in both state and federal courts. Our trial attorneys, legal support staff, and our resources are designed for cases as such these: This is what we do; This is who we are. If you or a loved one believe that you have a case, contact Parker Waichman LLP for a free, no obligation case review.
WHY SHOULD SOMEONE CHOOSE PARKER WAICHMAN FOR THEIR EYE DROPS LAWSUIT?
Parker Waichman is a large, national plaintiff’s law firm with over 150 attorneys and staff. We have a large staff because we litigate our own cases. For example, our firm represents people in litigation all across the U.S.. Our trial attorneys do not sit back and wait for the defendants to arrange a settlement. Our attorneys try to litigate our clients’ cases individually, and we represent our clients the best that we can to obtain a maximum recovery.
Our attorneys have successfully won trial against some of the largest corporations in the United States, if not the world. Our firm is very well-equipped and extremely well-financed to handle litigation such as this EzriCare Artificial Tears eye drop litigation. Parker Waichman is one of the largest product liability law firms in the United States, and we take on pharmaceutical and medical device companies almost every single day.
WHAT IS PARKER WAICHMAN’S RELEVANT EXPERIENCE WITH DEFECTIVE DRUG LAWSUITS?
Parker Waichman LLP has represented thousands of clients in injury and wrongful death lawsuits against major pharmaceutical and medical device corporations over the past four decades. Our law firm has litigated some of the most complex product liability cases such as ReNu, Zyprexa, Ortho Evra birth control patch, Medtronic’s Infuse spinal medical device, TDF drugs, talcum powder, hernia mesh, Roundup, and numerous medical device and implant cases. This is what our firm does.
Please view our Case Results page for additional information about the verdicts and settlements we have obtained for our clients.
BUT WHY SHOULD YOU FILE AN EZRICARE EYE DROP INJURY LAWSUIT?
People have a right to know the products they are using are safe and effective. Although, many companies try to manufacture safe and effective products, some products end up posing a danger to consumers. In some cases, those products are recalled. However, recalls take months and often times a brand will deny that their product is causing harm to prevent financial losses. In these circumstances, it is necessary to file a product liability lawsuit to protect other people from harm.
A few reasons why it is important to file a lawsuit if you or a loved one suffered harm using these artificial eye drops include:
- You or your loved one could receive financial compensation to pay all medical expenses connected to the defective product.
- You or your family member can receive compensation for lost earnings when you or your loved one cannot work due to the injury or illness.
- You or your loved one can be compensated for emotional distress, pain and suffering, and medical costs that you have endured as a result of your injury or illness.
- If you lost a family member as a result using this product, your family could qualify to receive the damages listed above and other costs, such as funeral expenses.
WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER FILING YOUR LAWSUIT
Lawsuits filed against large corporation are complex cases that take an extended period of time to litigate. In some cases, it can take months or even years to settle or to argue a lawsuit in court. Most, if not all, product injury cases come down to a client’s medical records, which will provide information linking the eye injury or death to the alleged bacteria contaminated eye drops. Investigating the claim, reviewing medical records, retaining expert witnesses, and compiling other evidence takes time. Should you or your loved one retain Parker Waichman LLP to represent you, you and your loved one can rest assured that our experienced trial attorneys are working hard to obtain the best possible results in your or your loved one’s case.
IS THERE A DEADLINE FOR FILING A EZRICARE EYE DROP LAWSUIT?
Yes. All personal injury and wrongful death claims have specific deadlines set by state laws. If you or a loved one suffered an injury or the loss of a loved one, you have a limited time to file your claim. In some cases, that deadline could be as short as one year, in other cases it could be longer. These deadlines are known as “statutes of limitations” and these deadline vary from state to state. It is essential that you contact our law firm as soon as possible to protect your legal right to compensation.
CAN I FILE A LAWSUIT ON BEHALF OF A LOVED ONE WHO DIED FROM EZRICARE EYE DROPS?
When a victim of contaminated EzriCare eye drops caused a person to die, the surviving family members may have a legal right to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the companies responsible. Wrongful death lawsuits can compensate family members who have lost a spouse, parent, child, or sibling. The surviving family could recover compensation for the loss of their loved one’s love and companionship, earnings, and loss of support. As we understand, monetary compensation cannot replace your loved one, most clients seek legal justice and relief from the financial stress of medical bills and funeral expenses. At Parker Waichman, our experienced product injury lawyers have the experience and resources that are necessary for to pursue a wrongful death case on behalf of your family member.
Choose a Product Liability Attorney With a Record of Success
At Parker Waichman LLP, our product injury attorneys have substancial experience litigating personal injury and defective product cases. You and your family can be assured that we will work hard to obtain the best possible results in your claim. Eye injuries, loss of vision, or the loss of a loved one deserves legal justice. To begin the process of receiving, call us today at 1-800-YOUR-LAWYER (1-800-968-7529) to discuss your claim.
EXPERIENCE THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE
At Parker Waichman LLP, our lawyers are very passionate about helping our clients recover financially after an injury or loss of a loved one. Our legal representation have helped our law firm earn a stellar reputation. Over the years, our firm has recovered over $2 billion for our clients. A few of our firm has received include:
- A listing in Best Lawyers, which is based on extensive peer review.
- A top rating of “AV Preeminent” from Martindale-Hubbell.
- A near perfect AVVO rating of 9.8 out of 10.
- Law dragon’s highest rating of “5 Dragons.”
If you or a loved one have been harmed by this eye drop product, when you choose Parker Waichman LLP to represent you, you will be listened to and we will conduct a thorough investigation into circumstances of your case. Our attorneys will fight for your legal rights, and will make every effort to obtain the best possible results in your case.
GET LEGAL HELP FROM OUR EZRICARE EYE DROP LAWYERS TODAY
If you or a member of your family have become blind or lost a loved one due to contaminated eye drops, you may be qualified to pursue a lawsuit to recover compensation. For your free legal consultation with one of our product injury lawyers, call 1-800-YOUR-LAWYER (1-800-968-7529) or use our online chat feature. Our attorneys will help you understand your rights and we will work hard for the compensation you or your loved one deserves.
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