Patient
Information
Body Piercing,
Tattoos and
Congenital Heart Disease
Body
piercing and tattoos can result in bacteria (germs) getting into the blood
stream. For someone with congenital heart disease there is probably
a small risk during a piercing that bacteria could enter the blood
stream and cause an infection in the heart (endocarditis). This
sort of infection is very rare, but it is very dangerous as well.
There have, in fact, been cases reported of people with congenital
heart disease developing this type of infection following a body
piercing. Although they are sometimes recommended, taking
antibiotics before such procedures do not completely eliminate the
risk of endocarditis.
It
is critically important that any piercing or tattooing should be
performed under sterile conditions by a reputable practitioner.
The risk of infection is probably much higher when these procedures
are performed under less-than-sterile conditions.
If
you have any questions regarding the advisability of a body piercing
in the presence of congenital heart disease, or the need for
antibiotics prior to such a procedure, please speak with your
primary care physician or cardiologist. |
