TATTOO/PIERCING PARTIES MRSA

Generally speaking, tattoo and piercing parties are held for these reasons: 1.The patrons are under the legal age to be tattooed/pierced. 2.The patrons are looking for the cheapest work possible. 3.The “artist” or “piercer” is not licensed. 4.The “artist” or “piercer” is one of the patrons.

Typically, these parties have plenty of alcohol (or other drugs), cigarettes, food, and fun; not the best combination for good hygiene. Most “artists/piercers” that work these parties don’t have access to an autoclave and rely on rubbing alcohol, bleach, boiling water, or nothing to prepare needles, etc.

All methods known to modern science are employed to ensure safety. “LIVE FREE; NO REGRETS; NO SENSE”

A typical aseptic environment.

Doesn’t this look like fun!

The finished product; a sure Savage magazine winner.

WHAT CAN I DO? Practice good personal hygiene: wash hands often with soap and water use alcohol-based hand sanitizers keep cuts, abrasions, burns, and other skin breaks clean cover skin breaks with a clean, water resistant bandage don’t share personal items avoid contact with other people’s wounds or bandages If you have a staph or MRSA infection, follow the above.

Reported June 23, 2006: Forty-four people in three states (Ohio, Kentucky, and Vermont) were diagnosed with community acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections (CA-MRSA) from 13 unlicensed tattoo artists. The six unrelated clusters occurred between June, 2004 and August, Thirty- four of the patients were directly infected by the tattooing procedures while ten others were infected by contact with those who were directly infected. Interviews established that most of the “tattooists” did not wash hands, change gloves between patrons, sanitize the skin, or attempt to disinfect the equipment. Five patrons noted skin lesions on the “tattooist’s” hands.

MRSA facts web site