The UK Health Security Agency has issued a National Patient Safety Alert on potential contamination of some carbomer-containing lubricating eye products with Burkholderia cenocepacia, which can cause severe infections in some groups. The alert is for action by health and care providers who care for people who use lubricating eye gel products.
Certain batches of the following brands are being recalled:
• AACARB eye gel
• AACOMER 0.2% eye gel
• PUROPTICS eye gel.
The recalled products are normally available over the counter, online and are prescribed. Details regarding the product recall, including instructions on contacting Indiana Ophthalmics and the concerned distributors for the return of products, are provided in the Field Safety Note.
The Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has provided information, including product codes, and precautionary safety advice on GOV.UK via a Device Safety Information notice (DSI/2023/11) and said this will be updated if/as new pertinent information arises.
There is further information in the National Patient Safety Alert, which we urge providers to read.
