Mycobacterium abscessus is linked to which tattoo outbreak?

• A. 2012 in New York
• B. 2015 in Florida
• C. 2013 in Texas
• D. 2017 in Illinois

Answer: (B)

Mycobacterium abscessus is a non-tuberculous mycobacterium that can cause stubborn skin and soft tissue infections when it gets into the body, such as during tattooing. It can survive in contaminated ink or on improperly sterilized equipment, so outbreaks are tied to lapses in aseptic technique rather than the artistry itself.

In 2015, Florida experienced a documented tattoo-related outbreak of M. abscessus, illustrating how these infections can occur in real-world salon settings when hygiene and sterility aren’t strictly maintained. This event reinforces the importance of using sterile, single-use needles, sterile water or saline for diluting inks, proper cleaning and high-level disinfection of all surfaces and tools, and avoiding any non-sterile water in the process.

The Florida 2015 outbreak is the specific event associated with this organism in the context of tattooing, which is why it’s the correct reference. Other years or places may have different outbreaks or organisms, but this instance is the one linked to M. abscessus in tattooing.