Sydney Woman's Warning: How a Routine Manicure Led to Sepsis, Multiple Surgeries and Partial Finger Amputation

A 27-year-old woman from Sydney has shared a serious warning after a seemingly routine manicure turned into a medical nightmare, resulting in sepsis, multiple surgeries, and the partial loss of her finger.

Claudia Ruffin's health deteriorated dramatically just hours after visiting a nail salon in the upscale Double Bay suburb, according to news.com.au. What began as a relaxing self-care experience transformed into a harrowing ordeal when she developed a severe Strep infection that escalated to sepsis.

In emotional social media videos, Ruffin described how this experience "changed her life forever." The manicure, intended as a Valentine's Day treat in 2024, soon left her feeling severely unwell. "My heart felt like it was going to explode out of my chest. I had blurry vision. My toes felt numb," she revealed in her TikTok account.

A concerned friend rushed Ruffin to St Vincent's Hospital emergency department after alarming blood test results. She remained overnight for observation, and by morning, her thumb had become noticeably swollen. Initially, medical staff weren't overly concerned, but the situation escalated when they observed red tracking lines extending from her thumb to her neck—a potential sign of lymphangitis, a bacterial infection that can spread through the lymphatic system.

Her condition worsened rapidly, with her thumb turning black and discoloration spreading down her hand within just an hour. This alarming development necessitated immediate emergency surgery.

Ruffin subsequently endured a month-long hospitalization battling sepsis, an experience she described as absolute "hell." Throughout several weeks, she underwent six surgeries, received 48 stitches, had a skin graft procedure, and made multiple trips to the operating theater.

"They had to amputate down to my nail bed. A plastic surgeon reconstructed it at the end, but I still can't fully use it or feel anything," she explained.

On Instagram, she shared: "Over the course of the last 13 days #sepsis has left me bed ridden on intravenous antibiotics, undergoing 5 surgeries which included a skin graft to repair the necrotic tissue I lost on my thumb, all caused by a Strep infection I contracted during a routine nail manicure. I cannot stress the importance of doing your own due diligence on nail salons to ensure they are maintaining hygienic and sterile practices and to understand the risks. Because I didn't."

After a painful year of hospital visits and recovery, Ruffin is now advocating for greater awareness about sepsis dangers. She emphasizes the critical importance of selecting safe, certified salons that adhere to proper hygiene and sterilization protocols, particularly for those who regularly get manicures.

Nail technicians play a vital role in preventing infection spread. According to Health NSW, they bear responsibility for implementing effective infection control practices to protect client safety. Skin penetration treatments such as cuticle cutting and razor scraping can potentially transmit viral, bacterial, and fungal infections if equipment and surfaces aren't properly sanitized.

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body responds extremely to an infection. It constitutes a medical emergency that can lead to death within 12 hours if left untreated. Common symptoms include fever, chills, rapid breathing, confusion, and low blood pressure.