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CD News Alert

CD HEALTH ALERT: Risk of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Infections Associated with Contamination of Dental Waterlines

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a Health Advisory (HAN) linked here about a number of outbreaks of nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) among children who received pulpotomies in dental clinics where dental treatment water contained high levels of bacteria.

Referenced in the HAN is one such outbreak that occurred in Orange County in 2016, where 71 children had odontogenic NTM infections following pulpotomy procedures. This outbreak was linked to a failure to use disinfectants on the dental unit waterlines or regularly monitor water quality.