Several Tattoo Ink Brands Positive for Bacteria

Several Tattoo Ink Brands Positive for Bacteria according to a new report published by the FDA. In the report, 75 sealed tattoo and permanent makeup inks were tested. Of the 75 ink samples, the FDA found 26 were contaminated with bacteria. Half of the inks were classified as “sterile” but that did not make a difference in which inks were contaminated, according to the report. Bacteria found in the tested inks included staphylococcus saprophyticus, staphylococcus epidermis, cutibacterium acnes, pseudomonas putid and the drug-resistant bacteria, stenotrophomonas maltophilia.

The bacteria found causes a number of illnesses including urinary tract infections, acne, and other infections that can lead to sepsis, which can be life-threatening.

What the Study Says

In this study, we tested 75 tattoo and PMU inks using the analytical methods described in the FDA Bacteriological Analytical Manual Chapter 23 for the detection of both aerobic and anaerobic bacterial contamination, followed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing for microbial identification. Of 75 ink samples, we found 26 contaminated samples with 34 bacterial isolates taxonomically classified into 14 genera and 22 species. Among the 34 bacterial isolates, 19 were identified as possibly pathogenic bacterial strains. Two species, namely Cutibacterium acnes (four strains) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (two strains) were isolated under anaerobic conditions. Two possibly pathogenic bacterial strains, Staphylococcus saprophyticus and C. acnes, were isolated together from the same ink samples (n = 2), indicating that tattoo and PMU inks can contain both aerobic (S. saprophyticus) and anaerobic bacteria (C. acnes). No significant association was found between sterility claims on the inkand the absence of bacterial contamination. The results indicate that tattoo and PMU inks can also contain anaerobic bacteria.

The rising popularity of tattooing and permanent makeup (PMU) has led to increased reports of ink-related infections. This study is the first to investigate the presence of both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in commercial tattoo and PMU inks under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Our findings reveal that unopened and sealed tattoo inks can harbor anaerobic bacteria, known to thrive in low-oxygen environments, such as the dermal layer of the skin, alongside aerobic bacteria. This suggests that contaminated tattoo inks could be a source of infection from both types of bacteria. The results emphasize the importance of monitoring these products for both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, including possibly pathogenic microorganisms.

What is staphylococcus saprophyticus?

Staphylococcus saprophyticus is uniquely associated with uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI) in humans. It has special urotropic and ecologic features that are distinctly different from other staphylococci and from Escherichia coli.

S. saprophyticus is second only to E. coli as the most frequent causative organism of uncomplicated UTI in women. The more severe complications include acute pyelonephritis , septicemia, nephrolithiasis, and endocarditis. The vast majority of infections occur in young sexually active women. Wallmark et al.  isolated S. saprophyticus from the urine of 173 of 787 (22%) consecutive female patients found to have bacteriuria. The highest rate of S. saprophyticus infection was 42.3%, among women aged 16–25 years included in the study. Gupta et al. [10] reported a prevalence of 8% among 665 young women with UTI. In a study conducted in Australia, S. saprophyticus was isolated from 15.2% of the women aged 13–40 years with UTI. There are also several case reports of infections in young girls.

S. saprophyticus can also cause UTI in males of all ages; the organism has been isolated in young boys, and elderly men with indwelling urinary catheters. It also can cause urethritis, epididimitis, prostatitis, and nephrolithiasis in men, and is relatively rare in hospitalized men.

What is staphylococcus epidermis?

Staphylococcus epidermidis is a Gram-positive bacterium, and one of over 40 species belonging to the genus Staphylococcus. It is part of the normal human microbiota, typically the skin microbiota, and less commonly the mucosal microbiota and also found in marine sponges. It is a facultative anaerobic bacteria. Staphylococcus epidermidis can cause infections from implantation of medical devices such as cardiac devices, orthopedic devices, and CNS shunt. Up to 20% of patients with cardiac devices can become infected and can show signs of erythema, pain, purulence around the site of the infection, and sepsis.

What is stenotrophomonas maltophilia?

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an aerobic, nonfermentative, Gram-negative bacterium. It is an uncommon bacterium and human infection is difficult to treat. Risk factors for this infection include chronic respiratory diseases, especially cystic fibrosis, hematologic malignancy, chemotherapy-induced neutropenia, organ transplant patients, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, hemodialysis patients, and neonates. Also, hospital settings, prolonged intensive care unit stays, mechanical ventilation, tracheostomies, central venous catheters, severe traumatic injuries, significant burns, mucositis or mucosal barrier damaging factors, and the use of broad-spectrum antibiotic courses were shown to increase the risk of infection.

To learn more about the risks associated with these infections and many others follow Make Food Safe as we update news and features daily.