Infected tattoo outbreak traced to ink

In this undated photo provided by the University of Washington, the arm of a Washington State woman is shown after developing an infection earlier this year after receiving a tattoo. / AP Photo

(AP) ATLANTA - An outbreak of infected tattoos has led to an unlikely source: the ink.

With the growing popularity of tattoos, health officials say they are seeing more cases of a nasty skin infection caused by a common bacteria traced to the ink. In the largest outbreak, 19 people in Rochester, N.Y., ended up with bubbly rashes on their new tattoos, researchers reported Wednesday.

Infections from tattooing are nothing new. Hepatitis, staph infections and even the superbug known as MRSA have been tied to tattoos. Dirty needles and unsanitary conditions are often to blame.

But all the New York cases were linked to an unidentified artist who wore disposable gloves and sterilized his instruments. The problem, investigators concluded, was in the ink.

"Even if you get a tattoo from a facility that does everything right, it's not risk free," said Dr. Byron Kennedy, deputy director of the health department in New York's Monroe County. He is lead author of a report on last fall's Rochester cases was released by the New England Journal of Medicine on Wednesday.

In the past year, there have been 22 confirmed cases and more than 30 suspected cases of the skin infection in Colorado, Iowa, New York and Washington state, health officials said. The infections were tied to ink or water used to dilute the ink. Tattoo artists and ink makers should use only sterile water to dilute ink, health officials advise.

Scattered reports of the illness in tattoo customers have been reported over the past 10 years. But they may be growing more common as more people get tattoos, experts said. An estimated 1 in 5 U.S. adults have at least one tattoo, an increase from years past, according to polls.

The illnesses were caused by a bacterial cousin of tuberculosis named Mycobacterium chelonae (pronounced chell-OH-nay). The bacteria can cause itchy and painful pus-filled blisters that can take months to clear up, and involve treatment with harsh antibiotics with unpleasant side effects.

The bacteria are common in tap water, and have been seen in the past when tattoo artists used contaminated water to lighten dark ink. The ink used in New York was "gray wash," used for shaded areas of tattoos. The ink was recalled and has not returned to the market.

Companies that make gray wash sometimes use distilled water to lighten the ink, thinking it's clean of infection-causing contaminants. But the bacteria can live in that too, said Tara MacCannell, who led a related investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Her study appears in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report released Wednesday.

Some ink manufacturers add witch hazel or an alcohol preservative to lower risk of certain viruses, but those additives don't kill off the hardy chelonae bacteria, she added.

Investigators found the bacteria in opened and unopened bottles of ink at the New York tattoo parlor. They did not find it in water at the shop, MacCannell said.

Health officials say tattoo customers should ask what kind of ink is being used and what measures are in place to prevent infections.

[wahchachickychoo]

so... why not mention the 'recalls' so it will help the general public eh?


oh i guess that's too much libel in that hum?

[Sethmklein]

I live in Texas and recently had gotten a tattoo. A couple of days later I noticed red bumps all over arm. I went to doctor and it was confirmed it was a staph infection. I have been taking the proper antibiotics and used prescription cream. It is now healing up.

[medicalfact]

www.inkhealth.com (21st Century Aftercare)

Ink Health, LLC. is a privately held company based in Washington State that designs, develops, and distributes the world's finest and largest medical bandages globally. Our products keep the tattooed healthy. Ink Health, LLC. products are distributed worldwide to individuals, medical professionals, and tattoo artists through major distributors, mobile app. devises and online.

Built to address cross-contamination, bacteria, blood-borne and airborne pathogens, Ink Health PROSeries brand is a featured product line that is quickly becoming the favorite accessory of tattoo professional's everywhere. Ink Health is focused on health, innovation, quality, and customer service. We look forward to working with you, our customer, to make sure that every experience with our company and our products is exceptional.

[FLTATAU]

Tattoos are not dangerous. Unsanitary conditions and people who do not preform proper wound care are. And they conveniently left out of the article that with proper care, MRSA and staph infections associated with tattoos are rare. Infection from a reputable tattooing studio is even more rare. Be logical and educate yourself before you make judgments based on something you know little about.

CDC AIDS Data:
The CDC summary data about tattooing and HIV is as brief as it is dramatic. In its HIV/AIDS Surveillance Reports, CDC has consistently noted that it has documented "no cases of HIV transmission through tattooing" anywhere in the country since it began tracking such data in 1985 [1]. By comparison, there have been at least 7 cases of HIV transmission associated with dentists and dental workers.

Hepatitis: More Dentists Than Tattoos
About hepatitis: Of the 13,387 annual cases of hepatitis detailed in the most recent CDC report, 12 are associated with tattoo studios. By comparison, 43 cases -- or better than 300% more -- are associated with dental offices [2].

With those statistics, maybe you should hold off on getting your teeth cleaned. http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/news/local/at-least-9-dayton-va-dental-patients-test-positive/nMpfc/

[stitattoo]

There's a number of things this article are conveniently left out, and those you mentioned are the biggest. There's a bit of a sense of misplaced trust when people continually stress that the artist uses disposable gloves and sterilized equipment and nothing else. Yes those are two very important factors, but they breed a false sense of security when you don't know to also ask about basic cross contamination and exposure prevention--something every professional I know is more than happy to talk about.

Also, telling people to ask "what brand do you use" without offering any way to do their homework is lazy and irresponsible. Some of the best out there aren't what you'd find in a gas station magazine, and there is a line between quality and personal preference that can be difficult to explain to someone who has no idea what they're asking about.

[janineb123]

Thank you for one of the few intelligent posts on this story. The danger of getting a tattoo can be compared to the danger of driving a car. In the wrong, inexperienced or uncaring hands, it can be disasterous. But if the person "behind the wheel" is experienced and careful everything will go smoothly and there should be nothing to worry about.
I love that you pointed out that more cases of Hepatitis come from dentists than tattoos (which concerns me for a whole host of reasons) and I think it is also important to note that a lot of infections from tattoos also come from people who do not care for them properly after the fact. Obviously that is not the case with this story, but it is an important factor.

[lighthouserob]

Okay, this scares me from ever wanting to get a tattoo.

[FLTATAU]

I'm sure that was the intention.

[88Ronin]

As an employer, I rather like tattoos.

Tattoos make it easier to spot people with IQs below 100.

[FLTATAU]

That is a very narrow minded comment coming from someone who is an employer. Do you stereotype minorities as well? Or perhaps you prefer to work with one sex over the other?

If you ask me, I would say someone who can not to see the worth of people past what they see on the outside is a moron.

[janineb123]

This is one of the most ignorant comments I have ever read. Sure there are plenty of people with stupid tattoos, but for every one of those, there are several more who have well thought out tattoos that are meaningful to them. Tattoos are a form of expression the same way clothing, jewelry, and hair choices are and if you are judging someone on the way they chose to express themselves rather than their actual ideas and opinions about real topics or their skills than you are probably not the type of employer people would want to work for anyway.
For the record, I plan to get a tattoo and I am a straight A student and most of the people I personally know who have tattoos are intelligent, productive members of society, not moronic deralicts as your narrow minded perspective would believe.

[credibility2]

No sympathy here...I think people with these are hideous looking, especially when it's all over their body...

[wahchachickychoo]

bigot, i guess you don't care much for the 'live and let live' factor NOR 'freedom of choice'.


so, you from the bible belt? how many have you pushed under your wrath and fingerpointed?

[GottaLuvItt]

Oh, do tell me more about how beautiful you will be at 65 Martha12345

[cfiguer]

a lot more than the ones with the tats

[wahchachickychoo]

just because YOU don't want to be inked or enjoy tattoos doesn't mean we'll all regret it by the time we're 60.


which i have been for a while. move along deary, you're wasting our time.

bigot.

[Martha12345]

65 year olds with tats they got in their early 20's are a sight to behold. Sagging blotches of dark mottled skin aren't cool at all.

[FLTATAU]

Actually, tattoo ink and the technique has quite improved from the early 20th century. Healing methods have also improved.

At 65, your skin really should still be slightly elastic assuming you are reasonably healthy and hydrated, so the ink shouldn't migrate more than normal. At 85, you would probably be slightly more wrinkled and saggy, but less likely to be alive.

Of course you wouldn't know this, because you obviously do not understand modern tattooing or the culture surrounding it.

[wahchachickychoo]

bigot. now go push your faith belief system down every child's throat you see pass by.

[pcfpgarty]

I have often thought ,long before this article ,that there needs to be some sort of certification of inspection from a state run health organization other than a business license before anyone should be allowed to inject an unknown substance under the epidermis of another person . There maybe that now but I am not aware of it.

[FLTATAU]

Most states require a yearly or quarterly inspection from a health department, not just an operating permit. Also, tattooing ink is not any more dangerous than any of the daily substances than anything else you come in contact with. This is a case where the ink was contaminated by what was supposed to be sterile water. It also appears to be relatively isolated. Statistically, you are more likely to pick up an infectious disease in your dentist's office.

[tom2360]

FLATAU obviously does not know what they are writing about. I am a dentist and I can tell you that the states do not have the resources to annually inspect LICENSED dental/medical/chiropractic offices let alone the 1000's of tattoo parlors, many of whom could be fly-by-night operations . In 21 years, I have never seen any inspector.Health agencies primarily respond to COMPLAINTS and that is what this story is about. Make no mistake, getting a tattoo is GAMBLING with you health!! If you feel lucky then go for it but do not blame anyone else if you get a skin infection or hepatitis
FOR THE RECORD, since 1987, the year hep B vaccines were widely available, there has been only ONE case of a dental patient getting hepatitis out approximately 7BILLION dental visits.Today, you are FAR, FAR, FAR more likely to get infectious disease from a tattoo "artist" than a licensed, professionally trained dentist.