Woman suing nail business for $1 million
By CINDY CLAYTON, The Virginian-Pilot
© October 17, 2002
Last updated: 10:34 AM
Reach Cindy Clayton at cclayton@pilotonline.com or 222-5201.
SALON SAFETY
Nail technicians must complete 150 hours
in an approved training program that is
accredited by the state's Department of
Professional and Occupational
Regulation.
Courses cover topics such as anatomy,
physiology, bacteriology, sterilization and
sanitation of implements.
Technicians take a two-part state exam to
be licensed, and licenses must be
renewed every two years.
CHESAPEAKE -- Late last year, Marci Clark thought a foot bath at a nail
salon in Greenbrier Mall would be a relaxing holiday treat. But three
weeks after her Dec. 29 visit to Wonder Nails, Clark noticed a small bump
on her lower leg. The bump quickly turned into an open sore that spread.
And what had been 30 minutes of pampering evolved into eight months of
agony, she alleges in a lawsuit filed last week in Circuit Court. Like other
women across the country who have suffered similar infections, Clark
said she believes the nail salon foot bath infected her and left her with
permanent, bruise like scars. The 35-year-old Virginia Beach mother of
two is suing Wonder Nails owner My Ly Thi Nguyen for $1 million.
Nguyen and her family said Wednesday that they could not comment on
the suit and were consulting with their insurance company and attorneys.
At first, doctors thought Clark had a staph infection. A dermatologist
performed a biopsy and prescribed antibiotics. When the sores didn't
respond to treatment, a second biopsy was done, she said.
State officials offer these safety tips for
consumers:
The news wasn't good. She had mycobacteria -- a type in the
tuberculosis family. It can be found in hot tubs or pools and has been
- Ask employees about cleaning
procedures. Check to see that implements
known to infect frequent divers, doctors told her. Clark said she doesn't
are sanitized, or bring your own.
have a hot tub and hadn't been near a pool. Suspicion turned to the foot
bath. The baths are miniature hot tubs with swirling water. If the filters are
- Don't let a nail technician scrape your
not cleared and cleaned with hospital-grade disinfectant, dead skin and
feet before putting them into a bath.
nail remnants that collect can allow the bacteria to breed, said Zelda
Dugger, the administrator for the state's Board for Barbers and
- Check to make sure the salon and your
Cosmetology. The board, under the state's Department of Professional
technician are licensed. Licenses should
be posted where you can see them. You
and Occupational Regulations, sets guidelines for the care and cleaning
can check licensing and get disciplinary
of nail and hair salons and barber shops. All implements and equipment
action information on salons and
must be routinely disinfected. The state requires licenses and exams for
technicians at
www.state.va.us/dpor/dpormain.htm on
nail technicians and salon owners but does not regularly inspect shops
the Internet.
unless consumers file complaints, Dugger said. So far, only a handful of
similar cases have been reported in Virginia. But health officials
Source: Department of Occupational and
nationwide have been learning about mycobacteria since late 1999 and
Professional Regulation.
early 2000, when more than 100 women contracted a similar infection
from foot baths in a California nail salon. ``Not until one person came
forward did they find out about it,'' Dugger said. ``It educated us and the industry as a whole.'' Clark had
shaved her legs the morning of the pedicure and said the bacteria probably penetrated her skin through a
small cut or open pore. ``When I first found out about the whole thing, I was worried for my children and my
husband,'' she said. She feared that they, too, could be infected, or that the bacteria could somehow get into
her bloodstream and kill her. ``I spent all that night on the Internet and pretty much had myself in a coffin,''
Clark said. She was sent to an infectious diseases doctor who could narrow down the specific type of
mycobacteria that she had. Clark tried powerful antibiotics, including Cipro, and endured several rounds of
blood testing to make sure her liver wasn't damaged and to check for tuberculosis infection. Doctors
determined which antibiotics would kill the bacteria, but Clark was left with the embarrassing scars. A plastic
surgeon told her that skin grafts probably won't help. Doctors also can't say for sure if the infection will return.
A self-described sun worshipper, Clark said she'll have to get used to staying out of the sun or severely
limiting exposure to her legs for fear that the scars will be irritated or worsen. ``It's something that I've had to
accept,'' she said, ``but it's not easy.''