County health officer issues order mandating closure of The Children's Dental Group of Anaheim
(FOX 11) - The County of Orange Health Officer today issued a Health Officer Order that closes the Children's Dental Group of Anaheim (CDG) due to positive laboratory results for Mycobacterium in CDG's internal water system.
The Health Care Agency (HCA) conducted testing of CDG's internal water system in compliance with the initial Health Officer Order issued on September 15, 2016. Despite CDG's replacement of the on-site water system, HCA's Public Health Laboratory confirmed on December 15, 2016, that multiple samples taken from the dental office's new water system tested positive for Mycobacterium.
"This action was necessary in order to determine the actual source of the Mycobacterium since it has reappeared," said Dr. Eric Handler, Public Health Officer. "We are working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Dental Board of California to determine what conditions are necessary to lift the order."
California Health and Safety Code Sections 120130 and 120175, and California Code of Regulations, Title 17, Section 2501, requires the County Health Officer or designee(s) to take whatever steps deemed necessary for the investigation and control of infectious or communicable disease.
When the conditions below are met to the satisfaction of the County Health Officer, the order will be lifted:
Clinic shall cooperate fully with the Health Officer Order.
Clinic shall implement additional measures necessary to identify and remove any and all ongoing sources of bacteria posing or potentially posing a risk to the public, including patients.
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Certification by the Dental Board of California that the Clinic's practices meet the Dental Board's accepted standards of practice.
Certification by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that there are no bacterial levels at the Clinic that pose or potentially pose a risk to the public, including patients.
A Health Officer-approved independent expert, in addition to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, certifies that there are no bacterial levels at the Clinic that pose or potentially pose a risk to the public, including patients.
For additional information:
A list of Frequently Asked Questions for concerned parents is available on HCA's website in both English and Spanish at www.ochealthinfo.com/dentaloutbreak.
If parents have concerns about the care their children received at this facility, the Dental Board of California encourages them to file a written report at dbc.ca.gov/consumers/ complaint _info.shtml.