[Tattooing and body piercing--experiences from public health infection surveillance by a public health office].
Tattooing and piercing have become increasingly popular in recent years. Both methods involve several medical risks, including transmission of infectious diseases. There are many reports on wound infections as well as transmission of hepatitis and human immunodeficiency viruses etc. According to these facts special hygiene regulations for tattooing and piercing have been published in Germany. Based on these regulations the public health department of the city of Frankfurt am Main, Germany, carried out special hygiene controls in such studios, one a year. Special tattoo or piercing exhibitions were also controlled. Results are reported here.


METHODS
Studios for tattoos or piercing were informed about hygiene rules and annually controlled from 1995-1999, using a special check list on cleanliness in the studios, disinfection and sterilisation procedures etc. For permission of tattoo and piercing exhibitions special hygiene orders were made mandatory.


RESULTS
During 1995-1997 the absolute number of complaints decreased from 20 to 9, in spite of the increasing number of tattoo studios in Frankfurt am Main (from 6 to 10). This was true also of the tattoo and piercing exhibitions. After 1 year without control visits however, an increase of complaints was to be seen in 1999.


CONCLUSIONS
According to our experience tattooists and piercers are interested in good hygiene practice. But our data showing the worsening hygiene data in one year without control visits also demonstrate the necessity of regular controls by the authorities. According to the reports on infectious complications of tattooing and piercing and according to the data reported here hygienic advice and control is an important task of Public Health services.
Heudorf
U
U
Abteilung Umweltmedizin und Hygiene, Gesundheitsamt der Stadt Frankfurt am Main.
Kutzke
G
G
Seng
U
U
D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003357:Cosmetic Techniques; D005858:Germany; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D011634:Public Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D013653:Tattooing; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission