A ‘SUPERBUG’ outbreak linked to bacteria-contaminated eye drops has seen one Brit die and dozens more fall ill.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) traced the outbreak back to three eye gels found to be contaminated with Burkholderia cepacia bacteria, an antibiotic resistant bug.
PAThree recalled eye gels have been linked to an antibiotic resistant bacteria outbreak[/caption]
The UK’s medicines watchdog pulled the products – AaCarb, Aacomer and Purpotics eye gel – from shelves last year and said healthcare professionals should avoid supplying them to certain patients.
The branded carbomer eye gels are usually given to people suffering with dry eyes.
In a recent report, UKHSA said there had been 52 confirmed cases associated with the outbreak as of March 21.
Another six Brits are also thought to have been sickened after using the eye drops, but UKHSA described these cases as “probable”.
The bacteria-contaminated eye gels are thought to have “contributed to the death” of one person, the health watchdog said.
It provided no further details on the patient.
The UKHSA believes the outbreak is now over, with most cases occurring last autumn when the three eye products were first recalled.
The public health watchdog issued a recall for the eye gels in November 2023 as a “precautionary measure” due to a “risk of adverse effects” to people with compromised immune systems.
By December, Optometry Today reported that there had been a reduction in Burkholderia cenocepacia cases following the recall.
Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) is a group of bacteria that are widely found within the environment that are naturally resistant to many antibiotics.
It rarely causes infections, but can severely sicken people with weakened immune systems and those living with cystic fibrosis, UKHSA said.
The Bcc outbreak affected people across the UK, peaking between October and November last year.
The earliest case was flagged in January 2023 and there have been no more since February this year.
The youngest victim was a baby, while the oldest was 91 years old.
Of the cases, 25 were assessed by UKHSA as being “clinically significant infections” brought on by Burkholderia cenocepacia.
Most of those affected – 41 of them – were already in hospital.
Eleven had eye infections like corneal ulcers, conjunctivitis and deep eye tissue infections, while another nine suffered respiratory tract infections and four more had blood poisoning.
“Testing of products submitted by hospitals with cases, conducted at UKHSA Food Water and Environment laboratories, identified contaminated carbomer-containing lubricating eye products as the source of this outbreak,” UKHSA said.
The three contaminated eye products were produced by a single manufacturer based in India, Indiana Ophthalmics
There’s no need to avoid carbomer-containing eye gels that are currently being sold in the UK.
As UKHSA explained: “The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has now received sufficient assurance from manufacturers and suppliers to conclude that products available on the UK market are safe to use and free of contamination.
“As of 21 March 2024, UKHSA, MHRA and the Incident Management Team are satisfied that the risk associated with this outbreak has reduced such that there is no longer need to avoid use of carbomer-containing lubricating eye products.
“Therefore, the recommendation to avoid use of all carbomer-containing eye products in individuals with cystic fibrosis, patients being cared for in critical care settings, the severely immunocompromised and patients awaiting lung transplantation has been stepped down.”
Officials are keeping an eye out for any new infections, it added.
It’s not the first time eye drops have caused a spate of infections.
Bacteria-contaminated artificial tears sold in the US last year resulted in four deaths, 14 people losing their sight and four having their eyeballs removed.
The eye drops – also manufactured in India – were contaminated by a rare and “extremely drug resistant” strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
What are the symptoms of a Burkholderia cepacia infection?
Burkholderia cepacia is the name for a group or “complex” of bacteria that can be found in soil and water.
They’re often resistant to bacteria but pose little medical risk to health people.
However, people who have certain health problems like weakened immune systems or chronic lung diseases, particularly cystic fibrosis, may be more susceptible to infections with B. cepacia.
The effects of B. cepacia on people vary widely, ranging from no symptoms at all to serious respiratory infections, especially in patients with cystic fibrosis.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the drug-resistant bacteria are a known cause of infections in hospitalised patients.
It said transmission of B. cepacia from contaminated medicines and devices has been reported.
But it can also be spread to vulnerable people by:
Person-to-person contact
Contact with contaminated surfaces
Exposure to B. cepacia in the environment
Source: CDC