EVERETT — A Snohomish County man is believed to be the first death linked to a slew of infections from a brand of since-recalled eye drops, state officials reported Friday.
This week, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said an outbreak of drug-resistant infections in the past year had hit 55 residents across 12 states, including California, Florida, New York and Washington. Patient outcomes included vision loss, hospitalization and the death of the Snohomish County man in September, state health department spokesperson Roberto Bonaccorso said.
Initially, officials identified the deceased as a King County man, but that was corrected Friday.
Citing privacy laws, the spokesperson couldn’t give more details, such as where the man lived or his age. The county health department was investigating, spokesperson Kari Bray said.
On Wednesday, state and federal health leaders urged people to stop using EzriCare Artificial Tears after learning the spate on infections may have been connected to their use. The next day, manufacturer Global Pharma Healthcare announced a voluntary recall of the eye drops. The company told sellers to pull the products from shelves.
In a statement, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration attributed the recall to contamination caused by packaging issues and a lack of appropriate testing.
The Snohomish County man had used artificial tears of some kind, but investigators Friday hadn’t confirmed he used EzriCare drops, Bonaccorso said.
The man had tested positive for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacteria often found in health care settings that can infect the eyes, blood and lungs. The Snohomish County man died of a blood infection, Bray said.
If someone is concerned about their use of the drops, they should contact their medical provider, the state Department of Health urged. If they show any sign of infection or discomfort, they should go to their doctor. Eye infection symptoms could include a yellow, green or clear discharge from the eye, redness of the eye or eyelid, increased sensitivity to light and blurry vision.
That said, experts have told eye drop users they don’t need to avoid most eye drops.
Jake Goldstein-Street: 425-339-3439; jake.goldstein-street@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @GoldsteinStreet.
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