Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Tonya Papanikolas reporting When many people hear Staph Infections, they think of getting it from a hospital. But doctors say you can pick it up in the environment or from dirty instruments.
One group of places in particular is causing problems: Nail salons.
The Salt Lake Valley Health Department told us tonight it's concerned about the issue. The board is looking into how it can change and enforce some of the rules that apparently not all salons follow.
KSL Radio employee Suzanne Vieweg has been wearing slippers to work recently, since she got a staph infection in her foot.
Suzanne Viehweg, Staph Infection in Foot: "Walking is kind of hard and just uncomfortable, and driving, just sitting, it hurts."
Suzanne says she got a blister running, then had a pedicure. Soon her foot hurt so bad, she saw a doctor.
"Suzanne: "There was a red line climbing up my foot, originating from the blister, going up my leg."
Suzanne isn't sure what caused her infection, or if her pedicure contributed to it. But a local podiatrist says nail salons hold risks. He sees the staph infections to prove it.
Dr. Mark Moritz, Podiatrist: "I've had an increase recently because of the manicure and pedicure shops."
Moritz says it may not be intentional, but nail technicians sometimes cut nails or cuticles a little too deep, which can cause infections.
Dr. Mark Moritz: "A lot of people don't' realize that just beneath the nail bed itself, there's just a few millimeters between the tissue and the bone itself."
Tools should be sterilized. Beware of razors used on calluses.
Dr. Mark Moritz: "It shouldn't be breaking of the skin, it shouldn't be razor blades, and it shouldn't be instruments that should be used in a proper clinical setting."
Whirlpool tubs can also cause infections if not cleaned out properly.
Julie Smith, Manager of Nailed! Salon: "We use a medical grade sanitizer on the tubs after each and every use."
At the Sugarhouse salon Nailed!, they use stainless steel tubs like sinks. They also offer pedicure tool kits clients can buy to bring to the salon.
Those kits are 35-dollars, and ensure your instruments are being used only on you. But the best advice is to ask questions. Ask if the instruments are sterilized, if the technicians are licensed and if the tubs are disinfected after every use.
