Local dermatologist finds link between infections, foot baths

By JOHN DAVIS
A local dermatologist recently found a correlation between seven of his clients who developed a rare bacterial infection following pedicures with foot baths.

Normally, Dr. Richard Hope said he sees only one or two cases of atypical mycobacterium a year.

When seven cases walked into his office in a nine-month period, he became concerned.

"When I talked with them, they'd all visited nail salons with a foot bath," Hope said. "I was aware of another cluster of cases in Southern California that was pretty sizable. So, I kind of had my radar out, if you will.

Hope's findings prompted the city of Lubbock health department to inspect three local nail salons, said epidemiologist Ken Condon.

"He was just astute enough to see several cases of atypical mycobacterium and see a correlation that all these people had been to nail salons," Condon said. "Under the Texas Disease Reporting Act, he reported it to us as required by law.

"That was pretty slick of that dermatologist to catch the correlation of the two things."

Condon said the inspections, which began in July, found no gross violations of city code. Salon operators were reminded of proper cleaning instructions of their equipment.

Condon said he could not comment on which salons were inspected.

Though no direct cause could be proven, a likely association between the outbreak and pedicures with foot baths did exist, according to Condon.

No outbreaks of the bacteria have occurred following the beginning of the investigation, Condon said.

Similar outbreaks have occurred in California in 2002, and in 2003 in Dallas, according to a July 21 story in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

The Dallas outbreaks caused the Texas Cosmetology Commission to pass new regulations last month requiring vigorous cleaning of devices and equipment after each use, the story stated. New cleaning procedures include washing foot basins between procedures, flushing basins every night, bleaching every two weeks and logging cleaning procedures.

Texas and California are the only two states to pass such laws, the story stated.

According to Condon's report, the people infected with the bacteria all were women between 19- and 52-years-old. Symptoms of the group included spots, bumps, rash, sores and lesions on their shins, thighs or both.

Hope diagnosed the cases between Sept. 16, 2003, and May 20, 2004.

Should people have between pea- and nickel-size bumps on their legs that won't go away with regular antibiotics, they should see their doctor immediately, Hope said.

So far, the seven infected patients are either healed or halfway through their six-month prescription of two different antibiotics, he said.

Though he said cleaning would help keep the bacteria in the foot baths at bay, he recommended people should not use them.

"I tell my patients it's like taking a bath with someone else," he said.

Condon said that local nail salons were safe from a health standpoint.

"I want to stress this," he said. "Pedicures are an enjoyable and probably healthy procedure for foot care. I would go get one today at any nail salon in town.

"I preface that with 'if I were so inclined.' "

johnw.davis@lubbockonline.com 766-8713
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