Infection control: an essential requirement in acupuncture practice – review of the literature

Abstract

The acupuncture is a millenary technique from China, it is recommended by World Health Organization (OMS) and was incorporated in the Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Due this large expansion, the objective of this paper was to review the literature about security and the infection control in the acupuncture practice, and recognize possible risks and adverse effects. The data was collected in books, magazines (PubMed, MEDLINE, LILACS e SciELO) in the period of 1984 to 2007 and manuals of acupuncture and infection control. Many reports showed that acupuncture is security and efficient, and the most of adverse effects could be avoid for professionals well-trained and capable. One of the major requisites during acupuncture is the infection control, because this is an invasive technique and the needles are the principal instrument, which penetrated in skin, subcutaneous tissues and muscular, providing microorganisms transmission. We concluded that if the biosecurity standards are followed, the risks in this practice will be low and disposable needles should be always used.