Body Piercing Hervey Bay [QLD Health Media Release]

Queensland Health has become aware of inadequate infection control practices in relation to body piercing services carried out by Top 2 Toe & The Skin Care Specialists, located at Shop 4/152 Boat Harbour Drive, Pialba.

Clients of the business who had body piercing carried out after June 2006 are asked to contact the Wide Bay Population Health Unit on (07) 4120 6000 to obtain a free blood test, confidential advice and counselling.

Body piercing equipment used at the time may have posed a very small risk of transmission of blood borne viruses such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.

People who have had services other than body piercing at Top 2 Toe & The Skin Care Specialists are not considered at risk of blood borne virus infection. [To see the full media release click the 'Read More' button below or alternatively visit our Bodypiercing and Tattooing Resources]

How likely is it that I will have been infected through body piercing at the business concerned?
An expert panel convened by Queensland Health has assessed the risk to be very low.  

What is the process for counselling and testing clients of the business?
Clients of the business who have received body piercing will be offered the opportunity to either see their usual GP or to attend a clinic set up by Queensland Health for counselling and a blood test. 

What about services other than body piercing?
Clients of the business who have received services other than body piercing are not considered to be at any risk of blood borne virus infection associated with those services.

What tests are recommended?
Hepatitis C antibody, hepatitis B surface antigen, and HIV serology.

How will I receive the results?
All people tested at the Queensland Health clinic will be provided with their results in person. Queensland Health will also advise the relevant GP of any person who returns a positive result, with their consent.  

Main risk factors for these diseases in Australia are:

Hepatitis B 
It is estimated that around half a percent of the Australian population have chronic hepatitis B infection. More than 40 percent of hepatitis B in Australia results from sharing needles or drug injecting equipment. Hepatitis B can be spread through sexual contact or household contact e.g. through sharing razors or toothbrushes with infected people.  Perinatal transmission from an infected mother to her baby can occur.  Transmission can occur through needlestick injuries.  Specific groups most at risk of infection in Australia include:

- people born in Asia and the Pacific Islands, or other endemic regions
- people from indigenous communities
- people who inject drugs
- men who have sex with men
- prisoners

Hepatitis C 
It is estimated that approximately one percent of the Australian population have been exposed to hepatitis C, with around three quarters of these having chronic hepatitis C infection. Hepatitis C virus is spread via blood exposures.  Sharing needles or drug injecting equipment is responsible for over 80 per cent of infections in Australia. Perinatal transmission from an infected mother to her baby can occur.  Transfusion of blood or blood products can be a risk factor.  While routine screening of blood products in Australia since 1990 has substantially reduced the risk, emergency transfusions overseas may hold a higher risk.  Transmission can occur through needlestick injuries. Risk of hepatitis C infection may be greater for people born in countries where there is a high prevalence e.g. Egypt or Vietnam.  Sexual transmission is thought to be very uncommon but may be more likely in sexual practices where blood-to-blood contact occurs.  Household transmission e.g. through sharing razors or toothbrushes with infected people, is thought to be very uncommon.

HIV 
It is estimated that less than 0.1 per cent of the Australian population are infected with HIV. HIV can be transmitted through blood, semen or vaginal fluid. This can occur through unsafe sex – rectal, vaginal or oral – or sharing needles and injecting equipment.  Transmission from mother to baby can occur during pregnancy, during a vaginal birth, or through breast-feeding.  By far the most frequent means of transmission of HIV in Australia is unprotected anal intercourse between men, which accounts for around 80 per cent of infections. People from countries with a high HIV prevalence, and their sexual partners, are at increased risk of HIV infection. Countries with high prevalence (1 per cent of population or higher) include: the Caribbean, Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asian countries including Thailand and Cambodia, and Papua New Guinea. People who have recently travelled to such countries, and have had unprotected sex, injected drugs, had dental, medical or cosmetic treatment, or a blood transfusion while in such countries, are at increased risk. 

How can I obtain more information?
You can call 13 HEALTH (1343 2584) or go to Queensland Health’s website at www.health.qld.gov.au.  The following factsheets are available:

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis C

HIV

Healthy body art

Body Piercing General

Source: http://www.health.qld.gov.au/healthieryou/body_piercing.asp


Click here to view the Hepatitis Council of QLD's Body Piercing and Tattooing information.