Bloodborne pathogens: Risks associated with tattoos and piercings

By Cristiano Antonino On Apr 30, 2023

Tattoos and piercings are now widespread, and appreciated. But you need to be aware of the difference between a professional tattoo artist and one who “tries”

One of the parameters to pay attention to, in addition to artistic skills, undoubtedly concerns attention to hygiene standards and knowledge of potentially spreadable diseases with tattoos and piercings.

A professional will also be a professional in this aspect of his work, from the sterilization of instruments to the adoption of disposable principals.

Bloodborne pathogens are diseases caused by microorganisms present in blood and other potentially infectious materials.

The different blood-borne pathogens are transmitted through contact with bodily fluids such as semen, vaginal secretions, amniotic fluid, synovial fluid, mucous membranes, and exposure to blood.

People at risk from occupational exposure include healthcare workers who perform certain types of laboratory work and are exposed to human blood.

Aside from healthcare workers, the most common modes of transmission include unsanitary tattoos and piercings

However, unlike in the past, when tattoos and piercings were viewed with skepticism, attitudes were constantly changing.

Can You Get Bloodborne Pathogens From Tattoos?

The tattoo process involves piercing the skin with a sharp object and inking it to create a permanent design.

Unfortunately, some tattoo artists will use the same needle on different people without considering the consequences.

This sharing can lead to the transfer of infectious diseases.

Many people see it as a small, temporary price to pay for the emotional and social benefits of permanent body art.

But in reality, sometimes, the complications of tattoos go beyond the skin.

For example, in these cases you could contract blood-borne pathogens that cause serious and long-lasting health problems.

Professional artists are trained to reduce risk, but exposure cases still exist.

Their training, however, reduces them to really manageable percentages of probability.

Risk of transmission from tattoo needles

The chance of blood borne infection from getting a tattoo is lower than from other needlestick injuries.

A needle is not like a syringe, where a container holds the liquid and injects it.

Instead, it is dipped in ink, set outside, exposing it to air.

The needle pushes the ink into the dermis of the skin when you get pierced.

So there is a high risk of infection if the tattoo artist is not following the correct procedures.

Pathogenic blood-borne diseases are fatal and difficult to treat.

While there is a wide range of blood-borne pathogens, three viruses are commonly linked to tattoos.

These are HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses.

Others are malaria, brucellosis and syphilis. In fact, a 2013 study by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases found a significantly higher risk of hepatitis C transmission if a person had at least one tattoo.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

HIV or human immunodeficiency virus is a virus carried in blood and body fluids and causes the acquired immune deficiency syndrome of AIDS. HIV was first discovered in the early 1980s.

Since then, it has infected millions of people and led to the deaths of many.

HIV attacks healthy cells in the body that help fight infection, also known as CD4 cells.

The virus multiplies as it attacks these cells.

As it progresses, the body becomes susceptible to disease and a condition called AIDS.

An individual is said to have AIDS when the virus destroys his body’s immune system.

Taking HIV medication suppresses the virus and prevents it from progressing.

A person has AIDS when their CD4 count is less than 200 CD4 cells per cubic millimeter.

A healthy person’s CD 4 cells are between 500 and 1600 per cubic millimeter.

In other cases, a person is diagnosed with AIDS when their body is constantly contracting opportunistic infections.

Without treatment, people with AIDS have a life expectancy of three years.

Therefore, taking HIV medications is life-saving even for people in the last stages of the disease.

In addition to piercings and tattoos, the virus is spread through unprotected sex with infected people, blood transfusions, organ transplants and needles.

HIV has no cure but is manageable with proper medication

It also happens that the human body cannot fight the disease on its own, so the infected person carries the virus for life.

The virus can live unnoticed inside the human body until the last stages when symptoms appear.

Infected people can lead healthy lives and protect their loved ones from infection with proper medication, also known as antiretroviral therapy or ART.

HIV transmission is preventable by using pre-exposure prophylaxis and post-exposure prophylaxis.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PEP):

It is a preventive drug that healthy people take to reduce the risk of infection when exposed to the virus.

The drug prevents HIV infection by capturing the virus and preventing its ability to multiply.

The drug is prescribed to people at high risk of exposure to the virus and prevents infection by 90%.

These include people who share needles for injection and those with HIV-positive partners.

The drug is also used to prevent HIV infection soon after exposure.

The drug must be taken immediately and is most effective when taken within three days of exposure to the virus.

The drug should not be used for regular exposure to the virus.

However, it can be used by people who have had unprotected sex with an infected person.

People who have been prescribed PEP should take the drug every day for four weeks.

After the prescribed period, the individual should undergo testing.

Testing for HIV is also essential for healthy people.

The disease can be controlled before it reaches advanced stages if caught early.

There are several HIV testing locations where you can get tested for free.

Self-testing is also possible by purchasing a test kit.

When infected with HIV, the individual experiences fatigue, sore throat, and fever.

The latter stages of the disease are accompanied by many symptoms, including recurring infections, fatigue, perspiration, fever, and weight loss.

Hepatitis

Hepatitis viruses affect the liver causing inflammation.

Some types of hepatitis can be transmitted through tattoos and piercings, including hepatitis B and C.

The liver is a critical organ in the body that performs functions such as removing toxins from the blood, regulating cholesterol, breaking down proteins, fats and carbohydrates, storing enzymes, and producing clotting factors.

In addition, there is hepatitis A, B, C, D and E and autoimmune hepatitis.

Studies show that 4.4 million Americans live with hepatitis B and C viruses.

Both hepatitis B and C viruses are transmitted through exposure to blood and body fluids.

Hepatitis B (HBV)

Hepatitis B is a widespread disease, with most people who have the infection unaware.

Hepatitis B infection occurs when the virus from blood or body fluid enters a healthy person’s body through open skin.

For example, tattoos and piercings can lead to the transmission of HBV.

The incubation period of the virus is from one and a half to six months.

On average, the disease takes four months to start showing symptoms.

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However, most people show no signs in this stage (acute stage).

The disease is preventable through the hepatitis B vaccine, and most healthy people who become infected successfully clear the infection in the acute phase with full recovery.

Victims who recover from the disease also gain immunity to the disease.

However, for those whose immune systems cannot fight off the disease within six months, the condition persists in their system for life.

Long-term illness is defined as a chronic hepatitis B infection.

The recovery rate is lower in children under six as only 10% clear the infection.

In the chronic stage, the disease scars the liver (cirrhosis) for long periods of up to 20 years.

There are, however, people who show no symptoms of the disease even with the virus in their system.

Therefore, people with hepatitis B have a higher risk of developing liver cancer.

People with liver damage or cirrhosis are treated with antiviral drugs.

Treatment reduces the risk of liver cancer or permanent liver damage.

Hepatitis B vaccines are very effective, providing 99% protection against infection.

It is issued in three doses over six months.

The immunity acquired after vaccination lasts for more than 20 years.

HCV was first discovered in 1989 and is also transmitted through tattoos and piercings

The virus also affects the liver and exists in several genotypes.

Like the hepatitis B virus, the hepatitis C virus has an incubation period of six months.

During this phase (acute phase), the infected person does not show any symptoms.

In other cases, the symptoms are too mild to be barely felt.

40% of people infected with HCV successfully clear the disease from their system.

Chronic hepatitis C disease persists for six months and lasts for life.

Long-term infection is also known as chronic hepatitis C infection.

For people with chronic hepatitis C, the liver becomes damaged or scarred over time resulting in liver failure or cirrhosis.

For others, the healing process is too slow and hardly affects the individual.

Hepatitis C is treatable and curable within eight weeks.

Symptoms of hepatitis B and C are common and include:

Jaundice
Fever
Fatigue
Loss of appetite
Diarrhea
Abdominal pain
Discolored urine
Light colored stools.

Bloodborne pathogens are transmitted during tattooing and piercing processes through:

Tattoos, equipment sharing
Accidents of infection and exposure can occur when items used in these processes are used by multiple people without being disinfected.

Additionally, viruses can remain on surfaces for periods ranging from hours to weeks.

Thus, by sharing piercing equipment, one infected person can infect as many people as those on whom the item is used.

Open skin (wounds, cuts, and piercings)

Tattoo artists and people are at risk of infection if they have open skin on their hands.

They can also accidentally puncture themselves using the same equipment that gets infected.

It is recommended that these people always wear protective gloves when working.

They should also be careful to avoid injuries that can cause disease.

They should always seek treatment whenever they are exposed to other people’s blood, bodily fluids, and other potentially infectious materials

Some blood-borne diseases in humans have no known cure, and people cannot be vaccinated against them.

It is therefore essential that tattoo artists exercise maximum precautions and practice checks to protect themselves and their clients from possible exposure.

How to stay safe from bloodborne pathogens?

Tattoo artists must follow safety protocols throughout the entire process, including equipment preparations and aftercare.

Personal protective equipment must be used, and tattoo artists must not reuse equipment between clients.

To make sure you’re safe from blood-borne diseases, it’s important to work with a professional tattoo artist who has certifications.

If he doesn’t have the money for a training course, for adequate materials and for the products necessary for sterilization, he probably isn’t a tattoo artist: he is someone tired of doing less rewarding jobs.

Your health depends on it, remember that.

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