News Details

CDC issues health alert for dental practices to monitor for Mycobacteria in waterlines

Apr 8, 2024

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a health alert on the importance of adhering to recommendations for maintaining and monitoring dental waterlines after reports of multiple outbreaks of nontuberculous Mycobacteria infections in children who received pulpotomies at pediatric dental clinics with high levels of the bacteria in the dental treatment water supplies, NBC News reported. The CDC said that while infections are rare, dental waterlines are susceptible to developing biofilms due to the "long, small-diameter tubing and low flow rates used in dentistry and the frequent periods of stagnation."

Full Story: NBC News (11/1)