En Español A risk of HIV transmission does exist if instruments contaminated with blood
are either not sterilized or disinfected or are used inappropriately between
clients. CDC recommends that single-use
instruments intended to penetrate the skin be used once, then disposed
of. Reusable instruments or devices that penetrate the skin and/or
contact a client's blood should be thoroughly cleaned and sterilized
between clients.
View the CDC fact sheet on the sterilization of patient-care equipment
and HIV (from the CDC Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion Web
site). Personal service workers who do tattooing or body piercing should
be educated about how HIV is transmitted and take precautions to prevent
transmission of
HIV and other blood-borne infections in their settings.
If you are considering
getting a tattoo or having your body pierced, ask staff at the establishment
what procedures they use to prevent the spread of HIV
and other blood-borne infections, such as the hepatitis B virus. You also
may call
the local health department to find out what sterilization procedures are
in place in the local area for these types of establishments.
Visit the CDC
Web site for links to the 50 U.S. state
health departments. |