Regional Public Health, Hutt Valley District Health Board, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.
Aust N Z J Public Health. 2011 Feb;35(1):27-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1753-6405.2010.00658.x. Epub 2011 Jan 13.
Traditional Samoan tattooing is a significant and valued cultural practice. Any tattooing carries a risk of complications, including the potential for serious bacterial infection. We discuss the complex nature of the public health investigation into two cases of serious bacterial infection following traditional tattooing occurring in the same region in New Zealand within a six-week period.
Description of two cases of life-threatening cellulitis (one with necrotising fasciitis) related to traditional Samoan tattooing and presentation of findings from the public health investigation. Discussion of the complex legal and cultural issues that arose.
Our paper illustrates the potential for serious bacterial infection by tattooing when performed in a non-sterile manner. There are gaps in the regulatory framework available in New Zealand to address the public health risks of unsafe tattooing practices.
It is important to balance the fundamental right to perform the traditional cultural practice of tattooing with the need for meticulous infection control. Reducing the risk of infection will require working in partnership with the community to develop acceptable standards and guidelines and to improve the regulatory framework.
传统的萨摩亚纹身是一种重要且有价值的文化习俗。任何纹身都有发生并发症的风险，包括严重细菌感染的潜在风险。我们讨论了在新西兰同一地区六周内发生的两例严重细菌感染的公共卫生调查的复杂性。
描述两例与传统萨摩亚纹身相关的危及生命的蜂窝织炎（一例伴有坏死性筋膜炎）病例，并介绍公共卫生调查的结果。讨论出现的复杂法律和文化问题。
我们的论文说明了在非无菌条件下进行纹身可能导致严重的细菌感染。新西兰现有的监管框架存在空白，无法解决不安全纹身做法带来的公共卫生风险。
在平衡执行纹身这一传统文化习俗的基本权利与细致的感染控制需求之间至关重要。减少感染风险需要与社区合作，制定可接受的标准和准则，并完善监管框架。
