Microbiological survey of commercial tattoo and permanent makeup inks available in the United States.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

Tattooing and use of permanent makeup (PMU) has dramatically increased over the last decade, with a concomitant increase in ink-related infections. The aim of this study was to determine whether micro-organisms are present, and if so, the number and their identification in the commercial tattoo and PMU inks available in the United States.

Methods and results

We surveyed 85 unopened tattoo and PMU inks, purchased from 13 companies. We incubated 100 μl of ink samples on trypticase soy agar plates for bacterial growth, 7H10 Middlebrook medium for mycobacterial growth, and Sabouraud dextrose medium for fungal growth. In total, 42 inks were contaminated with micro-organisms (49%). Thirty-three inks were contaminated with bacteria, 2 inks with fungi, and 7 inks had both bacte

SUBMITTER: Nho SW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8601000 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature