White & Blue Lion, Inc, City of Industry, CA recently recalled all lots of tattoo inks and tattoo needles due to pathogenic bacterial contamination. The recall indicated that the “use of these products may cause bacterial infection and can lead to sepsis, a potentially life-threatening complication of an infection. The recall includes all tattoo ink, tattoo needles, tubes, ink cups and kits…”
FDA laboratory testing has found bacterial contamination in both the inks and needles.
A variety of potentially pathogenic microorganisms were isolated from the tattoo kits (ink and needles) to include: Gram negative bacteria, Gram positive rods and cocci, which were identified as Bacillus spp., Sphingomonas paucimobilis, Micrococcus lutes, Corynebacterium spp., Clostridium botulinum and other Clostridium spp. The recall made a point that no mycobacteria were isolated.
A variety of potentially pathogenic organisms were also isolated and identified from the ink sets. These included Gram negative bacteria, Gram positive rods and cocci which were further identified as Bacillus spp., Acinetobacter spp., Staphylococcus haemolyticus, and Sphingomonas paucimobilis.
This recall was made with the knowledge of the US Food and Drug Administration.
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