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Anaheim dental group may have exposed children to deadly bacteria

Orange County health officials are notifying the parents of an additional 500 children who underwent the same procedure, called a pulpotomy, at Children’s Dental Group beginning May 3, 2016, to return for follow-up exams, reports the Orange County Register.

The seven cases who were hospitalized include a three-year-old boy who had to undergo surgery to remove an abscess that was only detected after a teacher noticed the swelling in his face. His parents had taken him to the dental clinic in May for a pulpotomy, sometimes called a “baby root canal.”

A pulpotomy is a common dental procedure done to save primary teeth when the nerve or pulp tissue of a primary or permanent tooth is infected. Treatment is then needed to prevent an abscess or loss of the tooth. The procedure is similar to adult root canals.

The number of cases was so unusual that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was notified, reports CBS News correspondent John Blackstone. The causative organism behind the infections is a mycobacterium called Mycobacterium abscessus, distantly related to the ones that cause tuberculosis and leprosy.

M. abscessus is an environmental mycobacterium and is found in water, soil and dust. The CDC says it has been known to contaminate medications and medical devices. It can cause a variety of infections. Healthcare-associated infections due to this bacterium are usually of the skin and the soft tissues under the skin.

The mycobacterium is a fast-growing and multidrug-resistant pathogen that needs to be treated aggressively. Quite often, multiple drugs need to be tested before a suitable regime is found. Treatment is usually through I.V. therapy after the abscesses are drained.

Dr. Eric Handler, a public health officer with the Orange County Health Care Agency, said, “It’s very resistant to treatment and needs to be taken care of quickly,” adding “I have not seen these types of cases in the 10 years that I’ve been here. Once we were notified, we jumped on it very quickly and notified the CDC.”

Samuel Gruenbaum, the CEO of Children’s Dental Group said, “We are doing everything, whether it’s sterilization or anything else that relates to taking care of the patients. We are on it.”

The 500 patients who underwent the procedure from May 3 to the present time are being asked to come back to the clinic for a follow-up visit that will include a dental exam, X-rays, and questions about any swelling, fever or other symptoms of infection. Orange County Health Care has also posted an information sheet online for parents.

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We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our dear friend Karen Graham, who served as Editor-at-Large at Digital Journal. She was 78 years old. Karen's view of what is happening in our world was colored by her love of history and how the past influences events taking place today. Her belief in humankind's part in the care of the planet and our environment has led her to focus on the need for action in dealing with climate change. It was said by Geoffrey C. Ward, "Journalism is merely history's first draft." Everyone who writes about what is happening today is indeed, writing a small part of our history.

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