Dirty footbaths at nail salon blamed for outbreak of boils

Mycobacterium fortuitum

Ron Harris / AP 27apr01

SAN FRANCISCO --  At least 109 women who got pedicures at a California nail salon developed boils -- and suffered permanent scars, in some cases -- from bacteria in the shop's footbaths.

The case prompted the state to issue new regulations for cleaning and disinfecting footbaths.

The type of bacteria is common, but the outbreak last year in Watsonville is the first documented case at a nail salon in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.

The boils were caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium fortuitum, which was found in the whirlpool footbaths used at Fancy Nails to relax customers and soften their skin, the CDC reported Thursday.

Customers began developing the purple sores last April. They were given antibiotics, and in some cases, the infections took as long as six months to treat.

Investigators found that women who had shaved their legs before soaking in the baths had a higher risk of contracting the bacteria.

Tuan Ngo, owner of the salon, closed the shop in October and the state suspended his license for 90 days Monday for keeping dirty footbaths. He was also billed nearly $19,000 for the cost of the investigation.

State officials encouraged patrons to look over such businesses for cleanliness.

``If things look like they're not sanitary, the best thing they can do is turn around and leave,'' said Rick Lopes, a spokesman for the state Department of Consumer Affairs.

The new regulations from the state Bureau of Barbering and Cosmetology call for soaking equipment in disinfectant and removing debris.

• Bureau of Barbering and Cosmetology: www.dca.ca.gov/barber