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WASHINGTON -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called on the public to immediately discontinue use of EzriCare Artificial Tears, saying the eye drops could be linked to infections that have resulted in hospitalization, vision loss and one death.

The CDC issued its warning Wednesday after 55 patients in 12 states were identified with infections caused by a strain of the extensively drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria between May and January.

Most patients reported using artificial tears. The majority of patients who used artificial tears reported using EzriCare Artificial Tears, a preservative-free, over-the-counter product packaged in multidose bottles, the CDC said. Patients and healthcare providers should immediately discontinue using EzriCare artificial tears pending additional guidance from CDC and the Food and Drug Administration.

Testing by the CDC identified the presence of the outbreak strain in opened EzriCare bottles with different lot numbers collected from two states.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is found in the environment and skin and typically enters eye drops through contamination with environmental agents during handling, David Chen, an ophthalmologist at Singapores National University Hospital, told The Washington Post in an email. The bacteria can lead to corneal infections (microbial keratitis), which can lead to permanent visual damage or blindness if not properly treated, he wrote.

Patient outcomes the CDC identified included permanent vision loss resulting from cornea infection, hospitalization and one death due to systemic infection.

EzriCare, a distributor based in Lakewood, N.J., told the Washington Post that it was not aware of any testing that definitively links the Pseudomonas aeruginosa outbreak to EzriCare Artificial Tears but immediately took action to stop any further distribution or sale of the product.

The product is manufactured by India-based Global Pharma Healthcare, which sells the product under other brand names, and is working with the FDA on a potential recall, EzriCare said.

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