Blinding Bacteria Found In Drug

Injections Carrying Streptoccous Bacteria

MIAMI – Patient after patient was rushed to the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute on July 8th with red, swollen and infected eyes.

"Many of these patients had excruciating pain," Dr. Harry Flynn told Local 10's Ross Palombo.

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In all, 12 people had similar problems, according to Flynn.

"It's a very serious problem. It can lead to blindness," said Flynn.

While trying to save their sight, Flynn said he discovered they all had injected their eyes with a similar compound of a drug called Avastin. The patients received the medication from 4 different doctors from across South Florida.

Flynn tested a sample of the compound and said he found Streptoccous bacteria.

The Florida Department of Health said the drug came from InfuPharma and that somehow one lot of mediation was possibly contaminated.

Calls to the company were not returned.

Flynn said no one knows exactly how many people may have been infected, but it's probably less than 50.

"It's highly probable that a large number of people will lose their sight," Flynn said.