Acupuncture could transmit diseases, find experts

Researchers at the University of Hong Kong revealed that use of unhygienic needles, cotton mops and hot packs in acupuncture could lead to a host of severe diseases like bacterial infection along with hepatitis B and C and perhaps HIV too.

Lead researcher, Patrick Woo, microbiology professor, University of Hong Kong said, “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,” added Woo.

Details of the study
To prove their hypotheses, researchers reported over 50 cases worldwide, of infections post acupuncture healing, largely due to inappropriate disinfection of patients’ skin.

Though, skin infections were more prominent in patients, there also were cases of contagious joints or tissues near heart, spinal column or brain, which indeed were a cause of worry.

Another acupuncture patient was reportedly infected with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)--an antibiotic-resistant bacterium, and put to six month treatment, with amputation of the infected joint.

Other findings
The study revealed that acupuncture may involve health risks as needles are interleaved up to several centimeters underneath skin and researchers cautioned that it could give rise to a new syndrome--acupuncture mycobacteriosis.

“This 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. There is a long incubation period but the infection usually leads to large abscesses and ulcers,” stated the researchers.

Though most patients recover from bacterial infections, five to 10 percent people face problems like joint annihilation, multi-organ malfunction, flesh-eating disease, and paralysis, added the researchers.

Acupuncture side-effects
It was noted that with five occurrences of hepatitis B, all linked to acupuncture, over 80 people were affected globally. The root of the infection was improper sterilization of needles.

The study researchers also established that HIV transmission was possible through acupuncture, adding that certain HIV cases presumably spread in this manner.

Though acupuncture could cause serious problems, they do not seem to be common if the therapy is performed under hygienic conditions, stated Woo.

Acupuncture, a conventional Chinese therapy is an alternative remedy and involves putting thin needles into the patient’s skin, enhancing energy flow--‘Qi’ around the body.

The therapy is used for problems like irritable bowel syndrome, infertility and back pain.

The study appears in British Medical Journal.