Unsanitary Practices at Albuquerque Spa Lead to Multiple HIV Infections: A Reminder of the Importance of Proper Licensing and Infection Control in Cosmetic Procedures

Albuquerque, New Mexico United States of America
By 2023, five cases of HIV had been traced back to the spa.
In 2018, a woman in New Mexico was diagnosed with HIV after receiving a vampire facial at VIP Spa and Beauty Salon.
The owner, Maria Ramos De Ruiz, pleaded guilty to practicing medicine without a license and was sentenced to prison.
VIP Spa was operating without proper licenses or infection control measures.
Unsanitary Practices at Albuquerque Spa Lead to Multiple HIV Infections: A Reminder of the Importance of Proper Licensing and Infection Control in Cosmetic Procedures

In the summer of 2018, a woman in New Mexico received a shocking diagnosis after testing positive for HIV. With no known risk factors for the virus, health officials began an investigation that would uncover a series of events leading to multiple HIV infections linked to unsanitary practices at an Albuquerque spa.

The facility, known as VIP Spa and Beauty Salon, had gained popularity for offering a cosmetic procedure called the 'vampire facial.' The process involves drawing blood from a patient's arm, separating platelets, and reinjecting them into the face using microneedles. Proponents claim it helps plump sagging skin and reduce fine lines.

However, investigations by both the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that VIP Spa was operating without proper licenses or infection control measures. Unlabeled tubes of blood, medical injectables, and unwrapped syringes were found in various areas of the spa.

By 2023, five cases of HIV had been traced back to the spa. Three women and one man tested positive for the virus after receiving vampire facials between 2016 and 2018. One woman was hospitalized with an AIDS-related illness in 2019.

The owner of VIP Spa, Maria Ramos De Ruiz, pleaded guilty to five counts of practicing medicine without a license in June 2022 and was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison. The CDC strongly recommends requiring adequate infection control practices at spas offering cosmetic injection services to prevent the transmission of HIV and other bloodborne pathogens.

The investigation serves as a reminder of the importance of proper licensing, training, and infection control measures when it comes to medical and cosmetic procedures. It also highlights the potential risks associated with unregulated practices in the beauty industry.


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Confidence

95%

Doubts
  • Additional investigations or reports may reveal more details about the specific causes of the HIV transmissions.
  • It's possible that there were other factors contributing to the transmission of HIV beyond unsanitary practices at VIP Spa.

Sources

100%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

CDC Confirms 5 Cases of HIV Linked to Dirty 'Vampire Facials' in New Mexico

ScienceAlert Mike McRae Saturday, 27 April 2024 11:45
  • Unique Points
    • In Albuquerque, New Mexico, a day spa was closed in 2016 due to an investigation into unregulated ‘vampire facials’.
    • Five cases of HIV have been traced back to unsanitary procedures carried out at the spa between 2016 and 2018.
    • The New Mexico Department of Health identified five women and one man who tested positive for HIV after receiving treatments at the spa. One woman was hospitalized with an AIDS-related illness in 2019.
    • Unsanitary practices at the spa included storing injectables in a kitchen refrigerator and unwrapped syringes in various locations. No regulation steam-based sterilizing system was present.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

99%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

"Vampire facials" at an unlicensed spa infected three people with HIV, CDC finds

CBS News Site: https://www.cbsnews.com/articles/about-us/ Kate Gibson Sunday, 28 April 2024 00:09
  • Unique Points
    • Three women contracted HIV from receiving vampire facials at an unlicensed spa in New Mexico, making it the first known cases of the virus being transmitted during a cosmetic injection procedure.
    • The facility drew the attention of state health officials after one spa client tested positive for HIV while traveling abroad in 2018. Another tested positive for HIV during routine tests for life insurance in 2018, and a third did not find out she had HIV until a year ago when hospitalized with an AIDS-related illness.
    • Unsafe infection control practices were found at VIP Spa including unlabeled tubes of blood and medical injectables, unwrapped syringes, and needles not handled appropriately
    • Maria Ramos de Ruiz, owner of VIP Spa, was charged with racketeering, fraud, practicing medicine without a license, money laundering, tax evasion and willful failure to collect and pay taxes in April 2021
    • The CDC recommends requiring adequate infection control practices at spa facilities offering cosmetic injection services to prevent the transmission of HIV and other blood-borne pathogens.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (95%)
    The article reports on the findings of the CDC regarding three cases of HIV transmission through vampire facials at an unlicensed spa in New Mexico. The author does not commit any logical fallacies in her reporting of these facts. However, there are some instances where inflammatory rhetoric is used to describe the unsanitary conditions at the spa and the potential risks of receiving cosmetic procedures at unlicensed facilities.
    • ]The incidents described by the CDC indicate the risks of patronizing unlicensed spa facilities.[
    • That included unlabeled tubes of blood on a kitchen counter as well as other injectables stored along with food in the kitchen's refrigerator.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

100%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

CDC Reports First Investigation of HIV Transmission via Cosmetic Injections

People Magazine Sunday, 28 April 2024 00:10
  • Unique Points
    • CDC is investigating HIV transmissions at a New Mexico salon where vampire facials were performed
    • Three women, aged 40-60, tested positive for HIV after receiving vampire facials at the VIP Spa in Albuquerque between 2018 and 2023
    • CDC reported the first investigation of HIV transmission through nonsterile cosmetic injections
    • Unsafe infection control practices were found at VIP Spa including unlabeled tubes of blood and medical injectables, unwrapped syringes, and needles not handled appropriately
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

100%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

CDC describes how unlicensed ‘vampire facial’ treatment infected women with HIV

The Hill News Site: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate-seethe-republicans-call-for-israeli-elections/ Nathaniel Weixel Friday, 26 April 2024 16:52
  • Unique Points
    • Three women were infected with HIV after undergoing 'vampire facials' at an unlicensed New Mexico spa.
    • The patient underwent a cosmetic procedure called 'vampire facial', which involves drawing blood, separating platelets, and reinjecting the platelet-rich blood into the face through microneedles.
    • Five patients were identified with confirmed spa-related HIV infections, including one who had tested positive for HIV two years before getting a vampire facial in 2018.
    • HIV is transmitted via contact with bodily fluids from an infected person.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

98%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

'Vampire facials' at unlicensed spa likely resulted in HIV infections: CDC

Fox News Media Michael Dorgan Sunday, 28 April 2024 00:12
  • Unique Points
    • Three women likely contracted HIV after receiving 'vampire facials' at an unlicensed spa in New Mexico, according to the CDC.
    • VIP Beauty Salon and Spa in Albuquerque, New Mexico was linked to several new HIV cases and closed after practices that could potentially spread blood-borne infections were identified.
    • Spa owner Maria Ramos De Ruiz pleaded guilty to five felony counts of practicing medicine without a license in June 2022 and was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (90%)
    The article contains a few inflammatory rhetorical elements and an appeal to authority. It does not contain any formal logical fallacies or dichotomous depictions. The author reports on the findings of the CDC without making any additional claims that would constitute a formal fallacy.
    • The shocking findings would make them the first known cases of the virus being transmitted during a non-sterile cosmetic injection procedure, the CDC says.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication