Contaminated eye gels from India led to one death in the UK

The outbreak of Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) in the UK, which is associated with contaminated eye gels imported from India, has led to the death of
one person, and many others falling ill, according to a government report.

Bcc is a group of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that are widely found within the environment. Although it rarely causes infection, it can result in severe ones in
individuals with compromised immune systems and those living with cystic fibrosis, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said.

Between January 2023 and February 2024, there were 52 confirmed and six probable cases across the UK linked to the bacteria outbreak, as revealed in the Health
Protection Report published by UKHSA.

Forty-one of these cases were hospital inpatients, 38 of which were in critical-care settings.

Twenty-five cases were considered to have “clinically significant infections attributable to Bcc”, out of which 11 had eye infections, nine had respiratory
infections and four had bacteremia (bacteria entering the bloodstream).

Two individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) were infected, and while one was treated, the other died, with the report indicating Bcc infection to have “contributed
to the death.”