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    FDA issues additional warning about artificial tears and ointment

    Food and Drug Administration (FDA); Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
    Comprehensive Ophthalmology, Cornea/External Disease
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    This is an update to our Feb. 3 article below, and our Jan 20, 2023, article, regarding the CDC and FDA recommendations about not using contaminated artificial tears.

    On Feb. 21, the FDA added a new warning to consumers and health care professionals about artificial tears and ointment: not to purchase or use Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Eye Ointment due to potential bacterial contamination. The FDA asked Global Pharma to recall the product, which the firm has done. This is an over-the-counter product, intended to be sterile. This warning is in addition to the previous warnings about 2 artificial tears products (below).

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    On Feb. 3, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning statement to consumers and health care practitioners to not purchase and to immediately stop using EzriCare Artificial Tears and Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Tears, due to potential bacterial contamination. Both products have been voluntarily recalled.

    The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has developed related resources for health care providers:

    The CDC continues to investigate the multistate outbreak of an extensively drug-resistant strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa associated with artificial tears.