Undisinfected needles, reuse of disposable instruments… In the United States, a spa is accused of being the cause of the contamination of four women with HIV.
The facts date back to 2018 and until spring 2023. In the state of New Mexico, American authorities have reported cases of HIV infection. Three Americans became HIV positive After undergoing microneedling treatment (facial treatment) with platelet-rich plasma, also called “vampire-lift”. This treatment consists of puncturing the skin several times with tiny sterile needles in order to slow the effects of aging.
Four clients diagnosed with HIV
In 2018, a forty-year-old woman discovered without her knowledge that she was positive for the HIV virus. However, this has no known risk factors. She has only one sexual partner, who himself tested negative. But, as she searches a little deeper in her memories, she realizes that she was exposed to needles a few months ago. In the spring of the same year, she had a microneedling treatment at the VIP Spa in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Faced with this situation, the New Mexico Department of health took up his case and opened an investigation into the aesthetic center. After 5 years of research, the health authorities published their results in a report. A total of 4 clients who received treatment in this establishment were diagnosed positive for HIV between 2018 and 2023. The accused, Maria de Lourdes Ramos de Ruiz, former owner of the spa, had already pleaded guilty in 2022 for practicing medicine without a license.
Dangerous practices
The report released by health authorities also reveals a myriad of unsafe practices at this spa. Several instruments underwent poor disinfection and injectable products did not follow proper storage procedures. They were kept in “the kitchen refrigerator with food”, details the report. Furthermore, equipment supposed to be disinfected using a steam sterilizer was cleaned “using ammonium chloride disinfectant spray and benzalkonium chloride disinfectant wipes after each customer visit.” The structure “non-licensed did not follow recommended infection control procedures or maintain customer records,” underline the findings of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And for good reason, this lack of information on customers was a major problem for investigators. To identify potential victims, they had to alert New Mexico doctors following people recently diagnosed with HIV. New screening campaigns were also launched and relayed on “social networks, radio, newspapers and television”. Thanks to this, they managed to screen 198 former clients of the aesthetic center and their sexual partners between 2018 and 2023. Good news : “no other HIV infections have been identified, nor any infections with hepatitis B or hepatitis C. Free testing continues for former spa guests, and the investigation is still ongoing,” it is specified in the report.
What is the vampire lift?
This practice, very widespread in the United States, helps regenerate the skin and improve its texture. It can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and acne scars. Microneedling involves taking blood, hence its other name vampire lift, to the client and to separate the plasma to reinject it on your face, using small needles. This aesthetic method, popularized by reality TV stars including Kim Kardashian, must follow strict hygiene rules using single-use or sterilized needles. Without this, there may be risks of pathogen transmission through blood, as was the case for these 4 victims.
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