Possibility of Contamination by 'Hangsaengje Naeseonggyun' (Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria)
In the United States, an emergency has been declared as cases of vision loss and even death have been reported after using artificial tears from a specific pharmaceutical company.
On the 21st (local time), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that as of the 14th, 68 cases of infection with carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (VIM-GES-CRPA) have been confirmed in 16 states, with 3 of the infected individuals having died, according to local media such as CBS.
The FDA has recalled the problematic products last month and notified users to stop using them, citing the possibility of contamination with antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The CDC added that among the infected, 8 lost their vision and 4 had to have their eyes removed.
All infected individuals were found to have used artificial tears or eye drops from three products, including 'Ezricare' from the Indian pharmaceutical company 'Global Pharma Healthcare.'
The CDC had previously announced last month that Pseudomonas aeruginosa was detected in the problematic products.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a highly pathogenic bacterium found everywhere?in soil, water, and living spaces. It is named for the green pus it produces when infected. It spreads through contaminated water and can cause a range of diseases from simple skin infections to life-threatening sepsis, depending on the infected area.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is usually treated with antibiotics, but infections with antibiotic-resistant strains, such as in this case, are very difficult to treat.
CBS reported on the spread of the infection, stating, "The carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain detected this time has never been found in the U.S. before and is resistant to about 10 types of antibiotics, making treatment extremely difficult."
As the number of infection cases continues to rise, CBS reported that researchers at the University of California have discovered a bacteriophage that can treat people infected with this strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Bacteriophages are viruses that use bacteria as hosts and are known as "bacteria killers" because they suppress the infection and proliferation of bacteria that cannot be treated with conventional antibiotics.
However, CBS noted, "No patients have yet been treated with this method," and "Several procedures must be followed to implement this treatment."
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