Regenerative expert nurse Claudia McGloin explains the news that has been circulating about HIV and PRP.
Three women were diagnosed with HIV after having a “vampire facial” procedure, which consists of a combination of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and needling, at an unlicensed spa in New Mexico.
An investigation carried out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from 2018 through 2023 showed they had apparently reused disposable equipment.
In addition, they found vials of unlabelled blood on kitchen work surfaces and in a fridge that was used for food.
They also were found to have used opened disposable syringes in drawers and normal waste bins.
The New Mexico Department of Health began investigating the spa in the summer of 2018, after it was notified that a woman had tested positive for HIV. This lady had no known risk factors. Her partner was also tested, and his result was negative.
The woman reported that she was exposed to needles following the procedure at the spa and this led to the investigation. The spa closed after the investigation was launched, and its owner was prosecuted for practicing medicine without a license.
Although HIV transmission from contaminated blood through unsterile injection is a well-known risk, this investigation is the first to associate HIV transmission with nonsterile cosmetic injection services.
The CDC emphasised the importance of requiring infection control practices at businesses that offer cosmetic procedures involving needles. Additionally, the investigation highlighted the need for better record-keeping by such businesses, to facilitate contact with patients if necessary.
The investigation found a common exposure to spa clients without behaviours associated with HIV acquisition, which helped identify a possible cluster association, and analysis of additional data suggested that HIV transmission likely occurred via receipt of PRP by microneedling facial procedures.
Although the investigative team was not permitted to collect specimens from the spa, evidence from this investigation supports the likely transmission of HIV through poor infection control practices. It’s essential for both practitioners and clients to prioritise safety and adhere to proper infection control measures when performing or receiving cosmetic injections.
Free testing continues for ex-clients of the spa, and the investigations are continuing. It is thought that there could be more people who have been exposed or infected, and it is impossible to contact them as they did not have adequate patient records.
