Victoria’s DHHS issues warning about ear and body piercing infections
An urgent alert has been issued about ear and body piercings after several people reported to health care services with bacterial infections.
A piercing aftercare product can cause serious bacterial infections, health experts have warned.
Several people who had used the product PROTAT Sea Salt and Tea Tree Spray had suffered from the infections, the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services said on Monday.
Testing confirmed a batch of the product was contaminated with the bacteria pseudomonas aeruginosa.
“The pseudomonas bacteria can cause piercings to become seriously infected, requiring admission to hospital for intravenous antibiotics or surgical management,” the DHHS wrote in the health alert.
The contaminated batch had the number BF996 and a use-by date of October 2023.
Other batches of the product should be safe to use, according to the health alert.
Anyone who has a bottle from the faulty batch should throw it away immediately.
Anyone who has used the product and experiences pain, swelling, inflammation or discharge from the pierced body part should contact their doctor.
Nation eradicates deadly disease
A nation has finally declared victory in a century-long battle against one of the world’s most feared tropical diseases.
Mum’s 4L-a-day water habit ends in disaster
A Queensland woman said she was “slowly drowning herself” with her excessive habit after being told to drink more water.
Shock ‘aggressive’ cancer finding revealed
Young adults who develop colon cancer tend to be diagnosed at later stages – and have more aggressive tumours, new research has found.