Diabetic ketoacidosis precipitated by Staphylococcus aureus abscess and bacteremia due to acupuncture: case report and review of the literature.

Acupuncture use is increasing in the United States. Despite multiple studies, the efficacy and safety of acupuncture are poorly defined. We report a previously healthy patient who developed a thigh abscess, bacteremia, and diabetic ketoacidosis after acupuncture treatment. We review the literature on infectious complications of acupuncture.

[1]  A. White,et al.  A Cumulative Review of the Range and Incidence of Significant Adverse Events Associated with Acupuncture , 2004, Acupuncture in medicine : journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society.

[2]  M. Kwan,et al.  Necrotising fasciitis: a life-threatening complication of acupuncture in a patient with diabetes mellitus. , 2004, Singapore medical journal.

[3]  Klaus Linde,et al.  Prospective investigation of adverse effects of acupuncture in 97 733 patients. , 2004, Archives of internal medicine.

[4]  V. Wiwanitkit.  HIV infection after Chinese traditional acupuncture treatment. , 2003, Complementary therapies in medicine.

[5]  K. Yuen,et al.  Staphylococcus aureus subcutaneous abscess complicating acupuncture: need for implementation of proper infection control guidelines. , 2003, The new microbiologica.

[6]  Dietrich Grönemeyer,et al.  Rare but Serious Complications of Acupuncture: Traumatic Lesions , 2001, Acupuncture in medicine : journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society.

[7]  B. Walsh.  Control of Infection in Acupuncture , 2001, Acupuncture in medicine : journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society.

[8]  E. Ernst,et al.  Adverse events following acupuncture: prospective survey of 32 000 consultations with doctors and physiotherapists , 2001, BMJ : British Medical Journal.

[9]  S. Walters,et al.  The York acupuncture safety study: prospective survey of 34 000 treatments by traditional acupuncturists , 2001, BMJ : British Medical Journal.

[10]  E. Ernst,et al.  Life-threatening adverse reactions after acupuncture? A systematic review , 1997, Pain.

[11]  H. Rampes,et al.  Complications of Acupuncture , 1995 .

[12]  T. Takayama,et al.  Transmission of hepatitis C in an isolated area in Japan: Community-acquired infection , 1994 .

[13]  S. Sekiguchi,et al.  The epidemiology and infection route of asymptomatic HCV carriers detected through blood donations , 1993, Gastroenterologia Japonica.