Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Anna M. Lyss, MD 3 ; William M. Transmission of HIV through cosmetic injection services via contaminated blood has not been previously documented; however, transmission of HIV via unsterile injection practices is a known risk.
Investigation of multiple HIV infections among persons with no known HIV risk factors who received platelet-rich plasma with microneedling vampire facials at an unlicensed New Mexico spa revealed likely HIV transmission associated with these cosmetic injection services. In the absence of known HIV risk factors, clinical and public health staff members might consider cosmetic injection services as a route of HIV transmission. Requiring adequate infection control practices at spa facilities offering cosmetic injection services can help prevent the transmission of HIV and other bloodborne pathogens.
Maintenance of client records could facilitate investigations of suspected transmission at such facilities. HIV transmitted through cosmetic injection services via contaminated blood has not been previously documented.
During summer , the New Mexico Department of Health NMDOH was notified of a diagnosis of HIV infection in a woman with no known HIV risk factors who reported exposure to needles from cosmetic platelet-rich plasma microneedling facials vampire facials received at a spa in spring Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed highly similar HIV strains among all cases.
Although transmission of HIV via unsterile injection practices is a known risk, determining novel routes of HIV transmission among persons with no known HIV risk factors is important. This investigation identified an HIV cluster associated with receipt of cosmetic injection services at an unlicensed facility that did not follow recommended infection control procedures or maintain client records.
