Reported outbreaks of infections caused by acupuncture may be “the tip of the iceberg” of a globally emerging problem, according to a team of microbiologists.
Professor Patrick Woo and colleagues from the University of Hong Kong are calling for funding to ensure a proper set of infection control guidelines are in place.
The principle of acupuncture is that, by inserting and manipulating very fine needles into specific points of the body, the free flow of Qi – or energy – can be re-established and natural healing responses triggered.
In an editorial in the latest edition of the BMJ, Woo argues that acupuncture may pose risks to patients as needles are inserted up to several centimetres beneath the skin.
Infection related deaths
He writes that there have been about 50 cases reported globally of infections caused by failure to disinfect the skin properly. While most patients recover from infections, says Woo, “five to 10% died of the infections and at least another 10% had serious consequences such as joint destruction, paraplegia, necrotising fasciitis, and multiorgan failure”.
Woo says that, apart from the risk of bacterial inflections, acupuncture could contract the hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses as well as put themselves at risk of HIV infection.
New 21st century threat
The Hong Kong team add that in the 21st century a new clinical syndrome has emerged – acupuncture mycobacteriosis. This, they say, is an infection caused by mycobacteria that rapidly grow around the acupuncture insertion point as a result of contaminated cotton wool swabs, towels and hot-pack covers. The infection eventually leads to large abscesses and ulcers.
Woo writes that there have been two large outbreaks of mycobacteria associated with acupuncture, which affected more than 70 patients. However, he adds that acupuncture related infections are underdiagnosed and “case reports and outbreaks of acupuncture transmitted infections may be the tip of the iceberg”.
The authors conclude that “to prevent infections transmitted by acupuncture, infection control measures should be implemented, such as use of disposable needles, skin disinfection procedures, and aseptic techniques. Stricter regulation and accreditation requirements are also needed.”
UK patients “safe”
Ulrike Wirth, Safe Practice Officer with the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC), emails us to reassure patients in the UK that preventing any infection “remains the highest priority for the BAcC, and it maintains constant vigilance to ensure that the codes which govern its members’ work are up to date and effective”
The BAcC, which represents around 3,000 acupuncture practitioners, says its members are bound by a Code of Safe Practice which sets benchmark standards for best practice in acupuncture.
“The BAcC is well aware of the research featured in the BMJ, first reported some years ago,” says Wirth. “It remains confident that its own Code of Safe Practice, drawn up in consultation with Professor Norman Noah, the UK’s leading authority on skin piercing and hygienic procedure, fully protect any patient of a BAcC member from risks of this nature and is not aware of any infection of this type having been reported in the UK.
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1. A new study suggests acupuncture is good for depression in pregnancy. . .or does it? -
2. Smile or Die: How positive thinking fooled America and the world – In her new book, Barbara Ehrenreich presents the evidence of numerous studies demonstrating that positive thinking has no effect on survival rates. She also provides testimonies that suggest that possibly great harm comes from this false hope.
3. A gene mutation is linked to autistic symptoms in mice – Once again, this is research that would not exist if J.B. Handley, Jenny McCarthy, and their anti-vaccine cohorts were making the decisions because they have zero interest in exploring the genetic basis for autism.
4. Stem Cells restore sight to blind mice – I feel like this news story is a rerun. Anyway though, once again this is research that might not have existed if George Bush was president.
Bonita is a 47 year old mother of a six year-old. She has a genuine smile and passionate concern in her eyes as she speaks of her child. With a small child at home, life definitely didn’t slow down for her when she got cancer. Amazingly, she is still able to do most things she did for her daughter pre-cancer. Yet, she mentions launching her child’s toys to the loft above the living room is a bit more difficult after her mastectomy. While the lingering pain doesn’t stop her, the incessant anxiety that developed later does keep her from returning fully to her normal routine. Her mind constantly turns about the possibility of the cancer coming back and about people in letting her down again, just as she had experienced when she was first diagnosed. There was so much support to “get through” the treatments but little support to manage what this post-chemotherapy and radiation period would be like. The first wave of anxiety developed early on with the initial diagnosis and didn’t dissipate. After the chemotherapy to the radiation and moved to the ‘dreaded checkups with only two options – good or bad news.’ She tells of how she loves to paint. She paints pictures of beautiful faces and bodies. This is how she distracts herself from the ugliness she believes to still be inside her body.
