January 12, 2006

Local story makes national news

CNN features pedicure infection victims in special report

By Kymberli W. Brady
Staff Writer

Fourteen months ago, a handful of women mustered up enough courage to share an ugly, demeaning secret with the Almaden Times Weekly.

Pedicure infection victims Sara Iott, Dawn Erickson, Monica Dittrich, Brittany Welby, and Kristi Frankina.

On Tuesday night, they shared those stories again, only this time, with a nationwide audience of millions, during a seven-minute special report that aired on CNN.

This was no longer an intimate group, as they joined hundreds of victims from 12 states across the country—all of whom are suffering the ill effects associated with a mycobacterial infection they say they contracted after seemingly routine foot spa pedicures.

It also fit the profile perfectly for the CNN program that airs short segments on hard hitting subjects— the most pressing, most pertinent topics of the day, which they say attempt to get to the heart of the issue—or the root of the problem.

Hosted by correspondent Greg Hunter, several victims, including Almaden’s Brittany Welby, Kim Wirht of Watsonville, Sara Iott, Christine Frankina, and Monica Dittrich met with the CNN crew on Dec. 13 at a local hotel to shoot the interview segment of the special report.

What he found were detailed reports of infections in 12 states including California, Florida, Arizona, Virginia, North Carolina, Texas, Illinois, New York, Colorado, Oregon, Kentucky and Ohio. Hunter also orchestrated a surprise inspection of a salon in North Carolina and highlighted interviews with known safety educator Nancy King and dermatologist, Dr. Shelley Sekula-Gibbs.

In his report, Hunter addressed a growing faction of doctors, including Gibbs, who believes that the increasing number of cases nationwide represent a disturbing trend caused by bacteria that grows in dirty footspas.

“We really can’t scare people enough,” said Gibbs. “It’s a very real threat—all across the country.”

Angela Lanctot agreed. In 2002 while visiting her sister in San Jose, the soon-to-be bride contracted the infection—harmless little bumps she initially passed off as mosquito bites, but they quickly turned worse. The oozing lesions became so bad that her father, a surgeon had to drain them daily—by squeezing them, Hunter said.

“It was extremely painful,” she said. “Kind of like scream out loud, grit your teeth painful.”

In fact, the oozing was so bad, Lanctot said she had to wrap both of her legs to prevent the sores from seeping onto her dress, on what should have been the most memorable day of her life—her wedding day.

“It really makes you feel ugly—and damaged,” explained Monica Dittrich.

“It can really hurt people’s legs,” added Gibbs. “And it can leave them with disfiguring scars. It’s very bad.”

A life altering condition
It couldn’t get much worse for 19-year-old Brittany Welby, as she pulled up her skirt to reveal one of the worst cases on record.

“I’m not the same person anymore,” she said. “I can’t live the life I used to live when I was 18. This past year has damaged me so much.”

According to her attorney Robert Oushalem, who will represent 30 other cases, doctors say that she can expect to see only about a 30-percent improvement at best with scar revision surgery—at a cost of $60,000.

“I had a couple of people in the Watsonville case go in for scar revision surgery,” added attorney Robert Bohn, who is representing 46 other victims. “They are basically going in with a round scar to begin with and ending up with a straight line scar at the end.”

According to many of the victims who surfaced shortly afterward, it was the photo of an 11-year-old girl’s legs that ran with the breaking story, broke their silence and put them, as well as their doctors on the road to recovery.

With their daughter Sarah away at Azusa Pacifica, it was hard for Karen and Paul Iott to comfort her when her outbreak surfaced, especially as doctors had failed to offer any relief.

“We were trying to comfort her from long distance,” said Iott’s mother Karen. “The doctor kept trying different things but never associated it with the pedicure. All of a sudden, I’m looking at the Almaden Times and I see this big article and the picture looked just like Sara’s legs. I was so angry—glad that we finally knew what it was but angry at what it was.”

“If it wasn’t for that picture, a lot of people wouldn’t know what they had,” said Oushalem.

Education is key
From a historical perspective, Bohn has witnessed the same thing happen in Watsonville, the Bay Area, and he believes others, where he surmises education, or the lack thereof will be the key to resolving future outbreaks.

“First the doctors don’t know what’s going on, obviously the patients don’t know what’s happening to them and the people in the salons overall don’t appear to be very knowledgeable. I think a lot of this has been largely an educational problem. Not just in the salons, but the medical communities, the health department and the consumers. My suspicion has been that there’s a lot more of this out there than we know— based on our experience, I think a lot of it is going undetected.”

It is an issue Nancy King has been arguing for years. She proved it again with a hidden camera check of seven salons in Houston. King approved only one.

“That tells me that there are a lot of people out there who need a lot more training.”

Dr. Chris Schmidt certainly hopes so. He is the dermatologist credited with successfully diagnosing one of the first cases, the same 11-year-old girl whose legs were featured in the initial story. His efforts to educate the industry have met with resistance and—he hopes, change.

“I did contact the American Academy of Dermatology and surprisingly, they were not very interested in this subject,” he said. “But with this CNN story, they may become more interested—I hope.”

Locally, Schmidt continues to be a source for doctors by offering instruction and practical advice with regard to properly handling the biopsies. He considers actions taken by the state to issue new standards on how to clean the tubs and the whirlpool baths “very satisfying.”

Suggestions for a safer pedicure
Knowing what you’re getting into—literally, can prevent added worry now and undue pain and anguish later. Experts advise consumers to be observant and ask the following questions:

- Are the salon and the operator’s licenses posted and visible?

- Does the salon look clean and well maintained?

- How do they clean their spas and their tools—and how long do they disinfect?

- Ask to see the disinfectant used and look to see if it is EPA approved.

- Ask them to remove and show you the screen

- Be on the safer side and put your own tool kit together. Bring it with you and rest assured that you are the only one using it.

- Ask to see the cleaning log before you set one foot into a footspa. Better yet, arrive early and monitor the cleaning process.

- DO NOT shave your legs at least 24 hours before getting a pedicure.

New technology might guarantee safer pedicures
Although not mentioned on the show, Hunter spoke of the technology surrounding the new equipment and chemicals by one of the leading spa manufacturers, Amerispa, LLC, which has done extensive research since the Watsonville outbreak to provide a safer alternative.

“It has high-tech components in the machine that make you go through the 10-minute cycle,” said Hunter. “He’s come up with the same thing the doctor’s use—a hospital grade disinfectant that should be used between each client.”

“I’m not the same person anymore,” said 19-year-old Brittany Welby, shown above speaking at a press conference. “I can’t live the life I used to live when I was 18. This past year has damaged me so much.”

A second surprise inspection in North Carolina found one salon to be clean, but another told quite a different story.

“The one we featured had hair, lotion, skin and mold behind this screen,” Hunter explained. “When they filled it with water, that water became contaminated with that stuff cycling through it. It was kind of gross. They should have to take the screens off right in front of them. They should ask about what they do and how they disinfect.

“Nancy’s written books on this and gives month-long classes,” he added. “We can’t tell them in 45 seconds how to protect themselves, but we can give them some tips. Don’t shave your legs for at least 34 hours before and the longer the better. But that’s not a blanket security. Some have gotten it anyway, but it helps.”

One thing Hunter did come away from the interview with—fair or not, is that consumers like Welby, Wirht, Iott, Frankina, Dittrich and others are ultimately left with the lion’s share of risk—what he considers a perfect scenario of buyer beware.

“With these salons, I shouldn’t have to go in and ask them if they know how to do their job,” he said. “It’s all about quality control. They should know how to do it, which is kind of sad.”

Looking ahead
On the legal front, things are starting to ramp up, including a court date on Tuesday where plaintiff attorneys proposed the appointment of a special master, who will coordinate and oversee all of the cases on a less formal—but equally legal level. The judge granted their request.

The special master will now watch over all discovery issues and move the case along through resolution, whether through mediation or eventual jury trials.

“This is the most efficient and cost-effective way to resolve any discovery issues or disputes,” said Oushalem.

“He will be like a liaison—almost,” explained Bohn. “He’s given power by the court to issue certain orders, review motions and make recommendations on how the court should rule. He’s given some authority over the case and will serve as a mediator—a person who will try to work with the parties to settle the cases.”

One of the most popular questions Bohn gets hit with these days is an obvious one; will this one take as long?

“Gosh I certainly hope not,” he said. “That’s one of the reasons for getting a special master involved in things like insurance issues. If we’re going to start talking about settling these cases, we need to know how much money is really available.”