Tattoos drive new source of bacterial infection?
A recent study documents many cases in the Rochester, New York area, of tattoos infected with a type of bacteria often found in tap water. Evidence points to a pre-mixed grey ink, the type used in currently popular portrait or photography tattoos, as the culprit.
Mary Gail Mercurio, dermatologist at the University of Rochester Medical Centre, examined the individuals infected. She says some people with tattoos have allergies or experience other dermatologic complications, but it's not common.
"Patients and doctors need to have a certain level of suspicion when they see a rash developing in a tattoo. Many of the patients I saw thought their skin was just irritated and the issue would go away during the healing process," Mercurio was quoted as saying by The New England Journal of Medicine.
"In actuality, they had an infection that needed to be treated with an antibiotic; it wasn't going to go away easily on its own," added Mercurio, according to a Rochester statement.
The investigation of the outbreak, which was also highlighted in the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, started with a previously healthy 20-year-old man who had a history of multiple tattoos in the past without any issues.
In October 2011, he received a new tattoo on his arm and subsequently developed a persistent, inflamed rash in that area.
After learning of his case, the Monroe County Department of Public Health explored the issue and identified other individuals who developed similar rashes after getting tattoos at the same parlour, from the same artist.
Tests conducted at the Rochester Medical Centre revealed that a specific type of bacteria, Mycobacterium chelonae, was in the patients' skin and led to the red, itchy bumps in their tattoos.
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Interesting topic, however, poorly written to be published for a Newspaper.
@Tamkinat i dont think its vague
As far as I know, a new tattoo is supposed to itch for weeks. Tattoos also turn bumpy depending on how heavily they're done and how sensitive the person is (if you suffer from ANY kind of allergy, even old tattoos can swell up every time your ESR rises). So the diagnosis is a bit vague.
@A.z.Khan : I never stated anyone shouldn't do it, my question is why would anyone want to ? Why not donate the money for some good cause ?
@Koi Upper Arm : Not only the newly identified infection mentioned here but you are at risk from hepatitis and HIV. So again, why would you want to risk your life for some marker in your life ? Yes, the sailors had tattoos done before they had cameras. Its become a fashion accessory now. I see so many women who have tried to get their tattoos removed. I can assure you, the scar left behind is not pretty.
And yes, tattoos look nice when they are new and colours are bright. After some time, the colour fades, the skin sags and what you are left with is pretty sad to look at.
In my view, no decent person would get a tattoo. You don't have to agree with this view.
@A. Khan: I got it to mark a certain time of my life. You could parallel it with how sailors used to get tattoos as markers of the places they had been and the exotic experiences they had had. The tattoo itself is personal and difficult to explain, and means different things to me at different times. But when people react strongly to it however it takes on a significance as an identity marker: one that says I'm not like you; I have a broader mind than you.
@Koi Upper Arm
Still begs the question : why ?
@A. Khan: Only one type of tattoo (the one on the extreme lower back that typically only women get) is called a tramp stamp. No one needs to look up what tramp means. It is a judgemental and sexist term most are familiar with.
I got a tattoo 5 years ago. No regrets yet. Plan to get another as soon as the opportunity arises.
Poor sods who get themselves tattooed. Regrets usually sets in a couple of months once you tire of wearing the same "t-shirt" for the rest of your life.
Tattoos are rightly known as a tramp stamp. Look up all meanings of tramp to get the correct context.