A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the first time documents incidents of HIV transmission through cosmetic injection services known as “vampire facials,” which are treatments that inject a person’s own blood into their face for cosmetic purposes, such as skin rejuvenation. The services are usually delivered in spa-type environments and involve drawing a client’s blood, separating the plasma and cells, and using disposable or multi use sterile equipment to inject the platelet-rich plasma. Investigators identified a cluster of HIV infections among people with no known HIV risk factors who received vampire facials at an unlicensed New Mexico spa. They concluded that the HIV transmission was likely associated with the cosmetic injection services. From 2018 to 2023, 4 former clients of the spa and 1 sexual partner of a client were diagnosed with HIV, but the investigation is still ongoing. According to MedPageToday, CDC and New Mexico Department of Health investigators found dozens of used needles improperly disposed of and collected in drawers in treatment rooms at the spa.
Red carpet misstep: Celebrities have touted vampire facials, creating pop culture demand for the services nationwide. “Many urgent cares may look to add cosmetic services to augment off-season revenue,” says Alan Ayers, MBA, MAcc, president of Experity Consulting and Senior Editor of JUCM. “However, in doing so, they should consider that such procedures are not without risk—risk to the patient and risk to the practice. It’s really like running a totally different business under the same roof that’s going to require its own procedures including specific protocols to prevent blood borne pathogen exposure. ‘Med spa’ is serious business and should not be viewed as easy money without the appropriate investments in people, training, equipment, supplies, etc.”
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