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It’s interesting that over the last 15 years more and more healthcare providers have changed procedures to get rid of swabbing. Studies like Sutton et al.’s (1999) show that swabbing is often done wrong and thus ineffective on its face, and even when it’s done right there’s no difference in infection rate, so why spend a fortune on swabs? Pratt et al. (2005) describe other evidence such as that you need a spectacularly large amount of bacteria to kickstart an infection, and there’s just not enough available on visibly clean skin to be pushed through by a tiny needle.

This is a bit of a counterpoint to how I see some piercers do… they swab their gloves, then they swab the skin, then they swab their gloves again. They don’t swab for the required 15 seconds, and they don’t let dry for the required 15 seconds, but they sure do use up a lot of swabs. This ineffective sterilisation practice would be a problem except that it’s a needless ritual, according to the available medical evidence. Personally I’m too scared to abandon my needless ritual, but I’ve sure stopped losing any sleep about the quality of my swabbing.

Flip through Sutton et al.’s (1999) article, it’s free access.

Sutton, C. D., White, S. A., Edwards, R., & Lewis, M. H. (1999). A prospective controlled trial of the efficacy of isopropyl alcohol wipes before venesection in surgical patients. Annals of The Royal College of Surgeons of England, 81(3), 183-186. Royal College of Surgeons of England. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2503183/

Pratt, R., Hoffman, P., & Robb, F. (2005). The need for skin preparation prior to injection: point counterpoint. British Journal of Infection Control, 6(4), 18-20. doi:10.1177/14690446050060040801

As far as breast piercing goes, other than staying away from the nipples and areolae, should not be any more dangerous than other areas assuming you exercise the same care and caution. If you are a member of Fetlife you might try to search some of the groups devoted to play piercing for more information.

Have fun,

Todd

zoo was a fantastic documentary. i saw it at sxsw a few years back (before i knew any zoos, actually). it was an interesting experience seeing it in a theatre full of people.