First documented cases of HIV transmitted by cosmetic needles

FILE – This electron microscope image made available by the US National Institutes of Health shows a human T lymphocyte, in blue, attacked by HIV, in yellow, the virus that causes AIDS. (Seth Pincus, Elizabeth Fischer, Austin Athman/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/NIH via AP, file)

Three women who were diagnosed with HIV after undergoing “vampire facial” procedures at an unlicensed New Mexico medical spa are believed to be the first documented cases of people contracting the virus through a cosmetic procedure using needles. federal health officials said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said last week in its morbidity and mortality report that a survey of the clinic from 2018 to 2023 showed that she had apparently reused disposable materials intended for single use.

Although HIV transmission from contaminated blood through unsterile injection is a well-known risk, the report says this is the first documentation of likely infections involving cosmetic services.

Many popular cosmetic treatments are administered with needles, such as Botox to smooth out wrinkles and fillers to plump lips. A “vampire face” procedure, or platelet-rich plasma microneedling procedure, involves drawing the client’s blood, separating its components, and then using tiny needles to inject plasma into the face to rejuvenate the skin . Tattoos also require needles.

The New Mexico Department of Health began investigating the spa in the summer of 2018 after receiving reports that a woman in her 40s had tested positive for HIV, even though she had no known risk factors. The woman reported being exposed to needles during the procedure at the clinic that spring.

The spa closed its doors in the fall of 2018 after the investigation was launched and its owner was prosecuted for practicing medicine without a license.

The report said the survey showed how important it is to require infection control practices at companies that offer cosmetic procedures involving needles.

He also noted that the investigation had been slowed by poor record-keeping and said companies providing such services should keep better records in case customers need to be contacted later.

Loop is better in the app. Customize your news feed, save articles for later, view your reading history and more. Click the links below to download the app for Android and IOS.