EzriCare Artificial Tears and Eye Infection Lawsuit

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is currently investigating a multistate outbreak of serious infections from these products, manufactured by India-based Global Pharma Healthcare. The CDC recommends that you stop using these products until the investigation is complete.

Seek medical care immediately if you notice any adverse reactions. Health care professionals are reporting adverse events in patients resulting in:

• Surgical removal of one or both eyes
• Vision loss, temporary and permanent
• And death

EzriCare and the FDA: A Timeline

On Feb. 2, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a recall for EzriCare Artificial Tears, an over the counter product, due to reports of adverse events including eye infections resulting from potential bacterial contamination.

On Feb. 22, 2023, the FDA expanded its recall to include Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Tears, an over the counter product from the same manufacturer, due to similar adverse events including eye infections and potential bacterial contamination.

As of March 2023, there have been 68 adverse events from using contaminated eye drops reported across 16 states, including North Carolina.

EzriCare Artificial Tears Lawsuit: How We Got Here

Global Pharma Healthcare is the manufacturer of EzriCare Artificial Tears and Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Tears, both of which are sold in the U.S.

After a multistate Pseudomonas aeruginosa outbreak leading to infections causing serious injuries, the CDC launched an investigation which revealed bacterial contamination in multiuse bottles of both products, though it remains unclear when the contamination occurred.

Global Pharma Healthcare then issued a nationwide recall at the recommendation of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to “potential microbial contamination.” The FDA also issued an “import alert,” preventing any further shipments of the products from entering the U.S.

Lawsuits began being filed in February and more may be filed on an ongoing basis. If you or a loved one became infected because of this drug manufacturer’s negligence, you shouldn’t have to bear the burden on your own. The experienced personal injury lawyers at James Scott Farrin can help.

What’s Pseudomonas aeruginosa?

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, or VIM GES CRPA (CRPA), is an extensively drug resistant strain of bacteria never before seen in the U.S. It causes eye infections including:

• Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
• Keratitis (inflammation of the cornea)
• Endophthalmitis (inflammation of the inner cavity of the eye)

Potential Complications from Pseudomonas aeruginosa/CRPA

Once it enters the bloodstream through your eyes, CRPA can cause eye, lung, and bloodstream infections as well as other diseases throughout the body. It is highly transmissible and can be spread directly by coughing, sneezing, or exposure to an infected person’s bodily fluids. It can also be transmitted by contact with an infected person’s hands and clothes, as well as contaminated objects.

If you believe you’ve been exposed to CRPA, we recommend that you seek medical care immediately. Then call an attorney to see what you may be owed for the harms and losses you’ve suffered.

Common Symptoms of Eye Infections After Using EzriCare Artificial Tears or Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Tears

Some of the most common symptoms reported by those infected after using these products include:

• Eye pain or discomfort
• Blurry vision and vision loss
• Increased tear production and eye wateriness
• Swelling and redness in the tissue surrounding the eye
• Fluid discharge of pus or mucus
• Crust around the eyes, sometimes causing the eyelids to become stuck
• Heightened sensitivity to light
• The constant sensation that there’s something in the eye, along with itchiness
• Contact lenses becoming uncomfortable or unusable

Treatment For Eye Infections From Using EzriCare Artificial Tears or Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Tears

Treatment for infections arising from using CRPA-contaminated artificial tears products can be extremely difficult because CRPA is resistant to antibiotics, even a class of drugs called carbapenems, which are powerful antibiotics often considered by physicians to be a last resort when other treatments have failed.

If you’ve been infected after using EzriCare Artificial Tears or Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Tears, your doctor may order the following treatments:

Lifestyle changes to promote healing

The healthier you are, the better chance your body has of fighting off an infection. Your doctor may call for lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthier diet, exercising more, and practicing excellent hygiene to promote your body’s natural healing properties and help you ward off complications from CRPA.

Combination antibiotic treatments

CRPA is resistant to some of the strongest, most reliable forms of antibiotics available to clinicians. However, every disease is unique and it’s possible that some antibiotics might still have an effect if used in certain combinations.

Therapies requiring a hospital stay

Some CRPA infections can be treated only with often life changing treatments requiring a lengthy hospital stay. These inpatient treatments, such as pulmonary care and coronary rehab, also tend to be very costly.

Surgery to remove infected tissue

While risky, it may be necessary for a surgeon to remove some or all of the infected tissue before healing can begin. This can include the complete removal of one or both eyes.

When Should I Call an Attorney?

Don’t hesitate – under N.C. personal injury law, there’s a deadline for you to file for the injuries you suffered from using contaminated artificial tears. Once you’ve reached the deadline, you likely won’t be able to proceed with your claim, no matter how strong.

Note: It is not necessary for you to report adverse reactions you’ve suffered from using these products to the CDC or FDA before filing a lawsuit.

How We Can Help With Your EzriCare Artificial Tears Lawsuit

If you’ve suffered injuries from using these products, it’s likely that you’ll have medical bills and other expenses. It’s hard enough for you to endure the pain of an infection and treatment – you should have the opportunity to pursue compensation for the injuries you’ve suffered!

Contact the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin for a free case evaluation if you developed an eye infection after using EzriCare Artificial Tears or Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Tears. Some of the ways we can help include:

• Building your case – by handling the paperwork, deadlines, and details of pursuing your eye infection claim, so you can focus on your recovery.
• Answering your questions – by drawing on our extensive experience in injury cases to guide you throughout your eye infection
• Seeking maximum compensation – by leveraging our track record of success¹ to seek compensation for your eye infection claim.

Our experienced personal injury attorneys are ready to fight for you and your rights! Since 1997, we’ve helped more than 65,000 people recover over $1.8 billion in total compensation.¹ These numbers don’t include the $1.25 billion settlement we led a team of attorneys in achieving for over 15,700 claimants in a historic class action case.³

And there’s no need to worry about whether you can afford an attorney – we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we don’t collect an attorney’s fee unless we recover compensation for you.²

We Always Put Our Clients First

At the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin, we provide high-quality legal services to help people going up against powerful foes. We put our clients first and fight for maximum compensation.

We’ve helped many clients harmed by defective drugs and products, such as:

• Surgical Staplers
• Philips CPAP, BiPAP, and Ventilators
• Hair relaxing products
• Injectafer
• Hip Implants
• Exactech replacement joints
• Tepezza
• Elmiron/Pentosan
• Xeljanz
• And many others

If you or a loved one suffered an infection after using EzriCare Artificial Tears or Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Tears, contact the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin today at 1-866-900-7078 for a free case evaluation.

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