The MMWR report from the CDC this week includes a study of 44 tattoo related incidences of MRSA occurring in 3 states (Kentucky, Vermont, and Ohio) and and connected to 13 different unlicensed tattoo artists. The MRSA patients ranged in age from 15 to 42 and were 65% male and the cases were collected between June 2004 through August 2005.
Although gloves were reportedly worn by all tattooists in four of the six clusters (defined by spatial and temporal relationships), adherence to other infection-control measures (e.g., changing gloves between clients and performing appropriate hand hygiene, skin antisepsis, and disinfection of equipment and surfaces) was not practiced. Investigators determined that three of the tattooists in Ohio had recently been incarcerated in correctional facilities, a potential site for exposure to MRSA infection (4). However, none of the tattooists from Kentucky or Vermont reported previous incarceration. None of the 34 persons with primary cases were incarcerated when they received their tattoos. Five patients reported seeing lesions on the hands of tattooists that were consistent in description with MRSA skin infection, and one tattooist reported a pustule on his finger; however, no specimens from tattooists were cultured. All 13 primary patients in the first of the four Ohio clusters reported receiving their tattoos in public places (e.g., parks or private residences) from tattooists who used homemade tattooing equipment consisting of guitar-string tattoo needles and computer ink-jet printer cartridges for dye. The persons with secondary cases were exposed to persons with primary cases by direct contact because they were living in the same house or had close personal contact.
Ugh. Needless to say, if you see lesions, pustules or anything of the sort on someone who is getting ready to touch you in any way, please reconsider the situation and walk away. Right now, I would consider getting a tattoo a high risk activity (as I do any elective surgery) and one which should be avoided. Read the rest of the article at CDC.gov.
CDC, Kentucky, MMWR, MRSA, Ohio, tattoos, Vermont .gif)
3 responses so far ↓
Leslie // Jan 31, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Wow. I didn’t know that you can get MRSA from tattoo’s, that is a real eye opener.
amanda // Feb 20, 2008 at 8:47 am
just dont go to anyone with nasty stuff on there hands make sure the place about to poke you with thousands of needles is clean dah might help ya not get nasty stuff popping out of ur tattoo !
kasey // Jun 20, 2008 at 1:01 am
nice work those look like real blisters
Leave a Comment