| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | equipment should be properly wiped down with |
| There is a slight risk of MRSA with permanent | | | | hospital grade disinfectants, or sterilized in the case |
| cosmetics (cosmetic tattooing) and traditional | | | | of surgical instruments. |
| tattooing, but it is a highly unlikely complication if the | | | | MRSA first appears as small pimples that rapidly grow |
| rigorous standards of hygiene required by the | | | | and develop into ulcers, boils, abscesses and |
| Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) | | | | carbuncles in which the skin has several ruptures |
| are adhered to. | | | | leading to a pus filled cavity below. So how can it be |
| MRSA is a staph infection, correctly named | | | | treated if it is resistant to antibiotics? Well, luckily, it is |
| Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (staph), | | | | not resistant (yet) to all antibiotics. |
| and is caused by the Staphylococcus aureus | | | | Linezoloid and vancomycin can still be used to kill |
| bacterium. Such bacteria can mutate in response to | | | | them off, and some colonies of the nose and other |
| antibiotics, which is why antibiotics such as the | | | | mucous membranes can be killed off using a |
| various types of penicillin, should not be used | | | | mupirocin antibiotic cream. It is generally best to test |
| excessively. MRSA developed in the early1960s as a | | | | the actual bacteria that are infecting an individual to |
| strain of staph that resisted the antibiotic agents | | | | determine the most effective agent available, |
| commonly used to treat it, and was amongst the | | | | because they mutate so quickly that what worked |
| first of the so-called superbugs’ that could | | | | last month might not this month. |
| resist all but the strongest drugs. | | | | It is also of critical importance to finish off any |
| It is interesting to note that about 30% of people | | | | treatment given to you. Much of the resistance to |
| carry the staph bacteria in their nose or on their skin. | | | | antibiotics is due to a patient feeling better part of |
| The bacteria have not made them ill, but are using | | | | the way through their antibiotic course, and not |
| such people as hosts on whom they cause no ill | | | | finishing it. Although they feel better, the bacteria |
| effects. It is possible, however, for such hosts to | | | | have not all been killed off and those remaining can |
| pass the bacteria on to others. Ordinary | | | | develop a resistance against the type of antibiotic |
| staphylococcus infections are passed on through cuts | | | | that it has been treated with. If you complete the |
| and grazes, and also by tattooing with unsterilized | | | | course, none will survive to mutate. |
| needles, or tattooing done in unclean environments. | | | | So where do the various forms of tattooing figure in |
| Our immune systems usually defeat the bacteria, | | | | all of this? It has already been implied that MRSA can |
| however, with those whose immune systems have | | | | be contracted during tattooing, as it can during any |
| been weakened, such as the elderly, AIDs victims or | | | | technique that involves breaking the skin. However, |
| those on anti-cancer treatment, these can cause | | | | just as injections and inoculations do not normally |
| serious infections. | | | | cause MRSA, neither does tattooing. The risk is |
| About 10 years ago, MRSA began to appear in the | | | | exceptionally low if the correct standards of hygiene |
| general population, and is now referred to as | | | | are employed, and if they are then you are many |
| CA-MRSA, or Community Acquired MRSA that can | | | | times less likely to contract MRSA through cosmetic |
| cause serious infections of the skin and of soft | | | | tattooing than through a visit to your dentist or a |
| tissues, and it can also cause a serious form of | | | | hospital. |
| pneumonia. Hospital Acquired, or HA-MRSA, is | | | | You are more likely to contract the disease through |
| contracted during hospitalization, especially by those | | | | burns and scarring, than through the technique used |
| with a weakened immune system or suffering from | | | | to permanently hide them with cosmetic tattooing |
| burns or with surgical wounds. Long term care | | | | camouflage. The clothing and working environment |
| facilities are also prone to HA-MRSA as are those | | | | employed in tattooing establishments are usually |
| patients recently subjected to invasive procedures | | | | controlled by the local and state departments of |
| such as gastric tubes, catheterization or even by | | | | health, as are the sterilization procedures for the |
| regular or cosmetic tattooing. The elderly are | | | | instruments used. New needles must be used on |
| particularly susceptible. | | | | each client, and they should also be sterilized before |
| There are two ways in which you can catch MRSA. | | | | use. All other equipment used should also be sterilized, |
| The first is by contact with somebody who has the | | | | and disposable parts, such as the needles, should be |
| disease themselves or from a carrier (30% of | | | | disposed of safely after use. |
| population). Even skin contact can pass it on. The | | | | Such premises should be licensed and regularly |
| second is by touching any object that has been | | | | checked to ensure that the proper standards are |
| touched by a carrier or infected person, such as door | | | | being adhered to and that, for example, all technicians |
| handles, towels, faucets, furniture — in fact | | | | are wearing a new pair of gloves and other personal |
| anything at all that has not been properly cleaned. | | | | protective equipment for each client. The technician |
| Since about a third of the population are carriers, it is | | | | should be wearing clean clothing, and all other |
| little wonder that those ill in hospital are particularly | | | | environmental aspects of the clinic that can pass on |
| prone to it since relatively few hospital visitors | | | | infections should be regularly cleaned with a |
| employ standards of personal hygiene necessary to | | | | disinfectant such as bleach. So question and keep an |
| control it. Frequent washing of hands with antiseptic | | | | eye on your tattooist, and if these procedures are |
| or alcohol based sanitizers is one of the best | | | | being followed, then you can feel safe from catching |
| defenses against MRSA (your own hands and also | | | | MRSA, or any blood borne pathogens such as |
| those of visitors, nurses and doctors), and you | | | | hepatitis or AIDS, while undergoing traditional or |
| should also keep your personal items to yourself. Do | | | | cosmetic tattooing, also known as permanent |
| not share razors, towels, etc., and in hospitals all | | | | cosmetic makeup. |