Its true -- you can get all kinds of nasty things from unreputible tattoo and piercing places. It has to do with the sterilization process and equipment they have - I dont have a tattoo so i'm not sure.

If you like, I can ask my sister where she gets all hers done - shes up to around 11 or so now from the same place with no problems, and she'd prolly know more about the process than me