title: [Infections caused by piercing and tattoos--a review].
abstract: Piercing, i.e. perforation of skin or mucous membranes in order to attach mostly metallic jewelery as well as multicolored skin tattooing have become more popular than ever before and a considerable number of (young) people practise these methods of body art which are supposed to increase the individuality. But there is a lot of side effects, among them especially infections. The most important bacteria cultivated from such patients are Staphylococcus aureus, group A streptococci and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Viruses which can be transmitted by piercing or tattooing are especially hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus. Besides local bacterial infections also systemic infections (sepsis, endocarditis) occur. The main aspects of diagnostics, therapy and prevention are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-, Nasen-, Ohrenheilkunde, Universität Leipzig, Deutschland. W.Handrick@institut-oderland.de
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Handrick
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nenoff
authors.forename: Heidrun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Wolfram
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Knöfler
mesh_terms: D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000635:transmission; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008670:Metals / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000209:etiology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000209:etiology; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes; D013653:Tattooing / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D008670:Metals