by Carmen Henesy

Created on: July 14, 2008

What a delight it is to get a pedicure and a nice, relaxing foot massage. I feel really glamorous when my feet are pampered and I am wearing my shiny hot pink polish, with a new pair of sexy sandals! I've even found a nice place in San Francisco that does a combination manicure and pedicure for twenty dollars so I indulge myself fairly often. After reading about the outbreak of Mycobacterium fortuitum cutaneous infections acquired from whirlpool footbaths, I did a good bit of research to try to insure I would not be a victim! As a nurse, my first - and best - resource was the Center for Disease Control website. I was even able to find articles in Vietnamese that I downloaded and gave to my nail salon owner!

State boards of barbering and cosmetology have regulations that govern cleaning, maintenance and disinfection of footspa equipment. Water should be drained between clients and the foot spa should be washed with soap and rinsed with clean water. Disinfection should then be done with an EPA-registered hospital disinfectant, according to the manufacturer's directions. Often this requires ten minutes contact. Whirlpool spas are best cleaned by filling with water and adding the appropriate amount of disinfectant, turning the unit on and allowing it to circulate for the entire contact time. The unit should then be drained and rinsed with clean water.

At the end of the work day, dismantle the components, removing any debris and thoroughly wash all parts with soap and rinse well. Reassemble and fills the spa basin with EPA-registered hospital disinfectant. Follow directions on the label or disinfect for ten minutes. It is most important the have the whirlpool operational so that all pipes and plumbing are being disinfected.

All nail equipment should be cleansed of debris and disinfected with the appropriate disinfectant, for the specified amount of time, between clients.

It goes without saying that the salon, itself, should be kept clean. The cosmetologist should wash his/her hands before each contact with the client and before contact with someone else. Clients should also wash their hands and nails before their spa services. A clean towel should be used for each client. A client should be rescheduled if they have any condition that appears to compromise their skin or appears to be an infection.

It should also be stressed that calluses should NEVER be removed by a sharp instrument.

For twenty-four hours prior to your foot spa visit, avoid shaving your legs or waxing them and do not use a depilatory cream. Do not schedule your pedicure if you've been at your 4th of July picnic, have been the object of a mosquito attack and have broken skin from frenzied scratching!

Should you note the appearance of what looks like mosquite bites AFTER your pedicure and footspa visit, be wary. It is imperative to schedule a doctor's visit for diagnosis and prompt treatment. Antibiotics are available and, hopefully, will be effective but should be started as soon as possible to prevent scarring. Prevention is far superior than treatment!

www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/dpac_footspa.html
h ttp://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/pedicure.htm
http://www.epa.gov/oppad001/list_b_tuberculocide.pdf
http://www.epa.gov/dfe/pubs/projects/salon/nailsalon guide.pdf
http://www.skinplistic.com/2007/04/12/pedic ures-can-be-dangerous/
http://www.bact.wisc.edu/Micro textbook/index.php?name=Sections&req=viewarticle&art id=320&page=1

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