Acupuncture and Mycobacterial Infections

The danger of acupuncture is the lack of hygiene of the hands, experts say. And it is this branch of alternative medicine that involves inserting needles into the skin may promote the development of infections in the body. Scientists said so from the Department of Microbiology at the University of Hong Kong.
According to research published in the journal British Medical Journal, the uses of acupuncture needles could introduce infection through the skin, either from the outside to the patient or a patient to another. ”
The team of Prof. Patrick Woo was given the task of reviewing data from several studies, and the counting of the results obtained in patients treated with acupuncture worldwide, found 50 cases of infections of the skin or muscle- skeletal.
According to Woo reported in his article, between 5 and 10% of patients with infections of acupuncture product, has died. In addition, a similar percentage suffered serious consequences such as paraplegia, organ failure and necrotizing fasciitis.
The danger for a patient when treated with improperly sterilized needles, is really serious. According to that research, in addition to the cases of mycobacterial infections, were also detected some 80 situations with patients affected by hepatitis B virus, associated with the use of acupuncture.
“These cases could be just the tip of the iceberg,” said Professor Woo, who recommends the use of different “control measures such as use of disposable needles, disinfection procedures of the skin and aseptic technique” and “a stricter legislation and better accreditation requirements.