This photo shows a severe bacterial infection that occurred after receiving a tattoo with needles that were not properly sterilized. Dirty needles are the most common cause of tattoo infections. Infection is also possible if the technician is inexperienced and fails to wash their hands, put on sterilized gloves, or forgets to clean the skin carefully before the tattoo is applied. In this case, the bacterial infection was MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).