A young Sydney woman has shared her terrifying experience after a routine manicure at an upscale nail salon led to a life-threatening flesh-eating infection that required multiple surgeries and partial amputation of her thumb.
From Beauty Treatment to Medical Emergency
Claudia Ruffin, a property development manager, booked what she thought would be a simple manicure at a salon in Sydney's eastern suburbs, hoping to achieve "cute nails" for an upcoming event. Within hours of her appointment, she began experiencing alarming symptoms that rapidly escalated into a medical crisis.
"I started to feel really off. My heart felt like it was going to explode out of my chest. I had blurry vision. My toes felt numb," Ms Ruffin recalled of the initial symptoms that prompted a friend to rush her to hospital emergency department.
The Rapid Spread of a Deadly Infection
Doctors kept Ms Ruffin overnight after concerning blood test results, but the situation dramatically worsened the next morning when she noticed slight swelling in her thumb. Medical staff then observed red tracking lines extending from her thumb up her arm to her neck - a classic sign of spreading infection.
The situation deteriorated rapidly. "Within an hour my thumb had turned black and the infection was rapidly spreading," Ms Ruffin explained. What began as expecting a simple nail removal procedure turned into six surgeries over 18 days as doctors fought to contain the aggressive blood poisoning.
Life-Altering Consequences and Vital Warnings
Ms Ruffin endured immense suffering during her hospital stay, including excruciating pain, fevers, migraines and numbness. She required 48 stitches, a skin graft, and ultimately partial amputation of her thumb to stop the infection's progression.
The property manager believes the infection occurred when her nail technician used unsterilised equipment between customers. "They cut my cuticle and I remember flinching," she said. "The nail tech was sharing tools with the colleague next to her. That's where I caught the strep infection that turned into sepsis."
According to medical experts, when technicians accidentally cut cuticles or use contaminated tools, staph bacteria can enter the bloodstream, potentially causing sepsis. Early medical intervention proved crucial in saving Ms Ruffin's life, though her thumb couldn't be saved below the nail bed.
Ms Ruffin has since undergone plastic surgery to reconstruct her thumb but continues to face challenges. "I still can't fully use my thumb or feel anything in it, and doing up buttons or putting earrings in is impossible," she revealed.
With Australians spending approximately $158 million monthly on nail appointments according to a recent Finders survey, and the busy Christmas party season underway, Ms Ruffin urges vigilance. "Anyone who goes to get manicures, please make sure you go to safe, certified places and that they are using sterile practices," she warned. "It could happen to anyone."
