In this lesson, we'll be covering infection control procedures and techniques for body artists. You'll learn how bloodborne pathogens and infectious diseases are spread as well as a number of aseptic techniques to protect yourself and your clients.
Tattoo artists and body piercers must be fully aware of all potential dangers of their work procedures and how to prevent infection. They also must follow health and safety practices and cleaning techniques to protect themselves, as well as their clients, from bloodborne pathogens and communicable diseases that include viruses, bacteria, and fungi.
As most of you are well aware, tattoos are done by injecting ink into the dermis – the inner layer of skin – with a needle attached to a handheld tool where the needle vibrates up and down at a rate of several hundred times per minute.
Infections can be spread through unsterilized equipment, contaminated ink, the mishandling of needles, and the improper cleaning of surfaces and clients' skin prior to all procedures. And bacteria, viruses, and fungi can all be present on the skin of the person receiving the tattoo or piercing.
Warning: Infections can spread quickly and easily. A tattoo or piercing needle that comes in contact with skin where germs are located can contaminate the needle or ink and then become the source of infection.
Adopt Aseptic Techniques to Control Infection
It's so important for body art professionals to use aseptic techniques for tattoos and body art procedures. Aseptic techniques are used to prevent cross contamination, or in other words, prevent the transmission of germs from one person to another or from one surface to another.
Pro Tip #1: Germs are not visible to the naked eye, which probably isn't a shock to you. But it's important to mention this because visible blood or body fluids on surfaces or instruments is not necessary for an infection to be transmitted. When working with clients, all surfaces and used equipment should be considered contaminated and thoroughly cleaned. (Or what we call – better safe than sorry.)
The goal of using aseptic techniques is to protect both the body art professional and the client. Aseptic techniques include the following principles:
- Body art professionals should cover his or her own skin if there are wounds, infections, dermatitis, etc.
- All clothing must be clean.
- Never let used equipment come in contact with clean or sterilized equipment.
- Maintain cleanliness of all supplies by storing them in a sanitary manner that protects all items from contamination.
- Make sure disinfectants are properly stored and chemicals are properly labeled.
- Use barriers to protect yourself, like single use gloves and gowns.
- Use proper hand hygiene.
- When wearing gloves that may have body fluids on them, don't touch any other items. Remove contaminated gloves before doing anything with sterile items.
- Before giving tattoos or piercings, properly clean and prepare clients' skin with antiseptic.
- Use ink from single use containers and only use on one client. However, ink stored in bulk containers can be transferred to single use containers.
- Dispose of single use containers after each person and each use.
- Never mix ink with tap water; only use distilled or sterile water.
- Use disposable single use needles and follow safe injection practices.
- Immediately dispose of contaminated needles, dressings, gloves, and other disposable items.
- Maintain a clean environment by using proper disinfectant and disinfect all chairs and work surfaces between each client.
- Clean and sterilize all reusable tools and equipment.
- Place all needles and other sharps that have come in contact with skin or body fluids into puncture resistant containers, known as sharps containers.
Pro Tip #2: If you are using a sterilization machine, like an autoclave, make sure it's regularly tested and serviced.
Pro Tip #3: Normally, you'll find a line at the top of sharps containers that will indicate that they are full. However, sharps containers need to be emptied when they are 2/3 to 3/4 of the way full. Be sure to make sure they are labeled and disposed of properly.
It's important to note that these are merely general guidelines to help protect you and your clients. Each workplace should have a written exposure control plan that outlines the proper procedures that are specific to your facility in regard to the proper disposal of regulated waste.
The use of engineering controls, work practice controls, and all personal protective equipment should be customized to your own individual workplace.
Pro Tip #4: In California it is not required to have red biohazard waste bags.
