The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a health advisory emphasizing the importance maintaining and monitoring dental waterlines. Multiple outbreaks of nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) infections have occurred in children who received pulpotomies in pediatric dental clinics where the dental treatment water contained high levels of bacteria. Other disease-causing microorganisms found in untreated dental unit water can include Legionella and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
In this advisory, the CDC provides infection control guidelines for dental settings. In addition, the CDC asks medical providers to consider an odontogenic source for cervical lymphadenitis or lymphadenopathy, and to assess a history of dental care and procedures in all children presenting with lymphadenitis.
Providers should report NTM infections to the local health department:
