Volume: 25S3 - July 1999

Infection Prevention and Control Practices for Personal Services: Tattooing, Ear/Body Piercing, and Electrolysis

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Background

During the fall of 1997, the Division of Nosocomial and Occupational Infections, Laboratory Centre for Disease Control (LCDC), Health Canada, announced a plan to develop infection prevention and control practices or guidelines for three personal services: tattooing, ear/body piercing and electrolysis. The process for development of the guidelines included the selection of a geographically dispersed Working Group with representatives from industry, infection control, environmental health, public health, and LCDC. Some commonly asked questions and answers about the guidelines follow.

1. What is the purpose of the guidelines?
The purpose of the guidelines is to describe infection prevention and control practices for personal services, including tattooing, ear/body piercing, and electrolysis. The guidelines are based on an assessment of potential or documented evidence of infection risk posed by skin piercing procedures and the principles of infection control to manage the risk. The framework of the Harm Reduction Model is used which, if followed, will reduce infection control risks.

2. For whom are the guidelines written?
The guidelines are written for practitioners who perform tattooing, ear/body piercing, and electrolysis. The recommendations for infection prevention and control practices in the personal service guidelines have incorporated practical suggestions from industry representatives. Environmental health officers and infection control practitioners may also find the document helpful.

3. How is the document organized?
The document is composed of three parts: Part l: Umbrella Document for Overall Infection Prevention and Control Practices Part 2: Specific Implications of Infection Control in Tattooing, Ear/Body Piercing, and Electrolysis Part 3: Literature review

4. Will the standards in the guidelines be regulated or enforced?
The guidelines reflect standards of practice for the prevention of infection for tattooing, ear/body piercing and electrolysis. Any regulatory process that governs personal services remains a provincial public health responsibility.

5. How can I obtain further information about the guidelines?
Please contact:
Division of Nosocomial and Occupational Infections
Bureau of Infectious Diseases
Laboratory Centre for Disease Control
Health Canada, PL 0603E1
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0L2
Tel: (613) 952-9875
Fax: (613) 998-6413

For additional information, please call your provincial or local public health department or municipality, or the professional associations for tattooing, ear/body piercing, and electrolysis.  

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