Perth woman’s horror after visit to Thai fish spa left her foot with flesh-rotting infection that required her toes to be amputated

[FarangTraveler]

For reference:

 

Fish Tank Granuloma Caused by Mycobacterium marinum in Two Aquarists: Two Case Reports
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3874340/

 

Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infection Occurring after Exposure to Mycobacterium marinum
"Cutaneous infections caused by Mycobacterium marinum have been attributed to aquarium or fish exposure after a break in the skin barrier. In most instances, the upper limbs and fingers account for a majority of the infection sites."
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4254079/

 

Mycobacterium marinum Infection of Adult Zebrafish Causes Caseating Granulomatous Tuberculosis and Is Moderated by Adaptive Immunity
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1695491/

 

Mycobacterium marinum infection in fish and man: epidemiology, pathophysiology and management; a review
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01652176.2018.1447171

 

1999 Emergence
"Although most diseases due to pathogenic mycobacteria are caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, several other mycobacterial diseases—caused by M. ulcerans (Buruli ulcer), M. marinum, and M. haemophilum—have begun to emerge"

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/5/3/99-0307_article

 

2011
Teenager May Lose Hand to Rare, Flesh-Eating Fish Tank Bacteria
https://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/flesh-eating-fish-tank-bacteria-lead-teens-amputation/story?id=13837034

 

[PerkinsCuthbert]

2 hours ago, Lupatria said:

Another ban for life in the making?

Send in Jokerman! (When he's back from the UK).

[connda]

It's unfortunate that this young lady is learning a hard lesson that no one could really anticipate.  However, now that her story has surfaced, it should be a warning to others.  The safety of this trendy business is questionable. 

[Gold Star]

A lawsuit is not advised, as it appears she doesn’t have a very good leg to stand on.

[AsiaHand]

I would never place my feet in a container of water where hundreds of people before you have placed their's maybe unwashed feet,or foot fungus are open foot wounds and sores.Only stupid people do that.

[wgdanson]

8 hours ago, londonthai said:

Fish come from a special breeding tanks.

these small fish don't spread disease, they are used as a cosmetic procedure, as well as medical one.

'Special' tanks...I think not, this is Thailand. They DO spread any bacteria in the water. Load of b..locks.

[owl sees all]

What about athletes foot? Lots of Isaan people have the complaint, especially during the rice planting and harvest.

 

Is it possible for one of these fishes to actually get into a cut, then into a vein and start eating the unfortunate person from the inside? The Amazon jungle has lots of these creatures.

[BestB]

8 hours ago, ratcatcher said:

The perils of spas are multiplied when you, the customer, allow unhealed wounds to come into contact with unclean water.

Spas will now be required to ask if customers have any cuts or abrasions on the feet or other body parts they may contact.

" which had seeped through her prior surgery wounds."

 

No no no.

 

Spa’s will now be raided and each fish questioned and tested ?

[lvr181]

9 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

After reading the linked story, I’m not sure it’s anyones fault to be honest, though the doctors taking a year to diagnose the problem didn’t help. 

I would doubt if they change the water after each person has dipped their 'bacteria laden' feet into the spa.  

 

People need to be smarter about their personal hygiene!

[Bluespunk]

1 minute ago, lvr181 said:

I would doubt if they change the water after each person has dipped their 'bacteria laden' feet into the spa.  

 

People need to be smarter about their personal hygiene!

It’s a revolting practice, from a personal hygiene perspective. 

 

I wouldn’t do it for sure, but the linked story makes clear that there was a series of events over a period of years that led to this unfortunate woman’s current situation. . 

[surangw]

sharing what all the previous customers had?

 

[utalkin2me]

If i was going to falsely blame a company for infecting my foot to the point of amputation, i certainly would not pick a thai company. 

[gk10002000]

10 hours ago, Rhys said:

... Those fish tanks need to go... all that dead tissue floating about in the water... eating diseased tissue...  Sorry for the Lass' plight...

I never trusted the overall sanitation and condition of those tanks or the health of the fish.  So much fungus and bacteria is typically on a person's foot that gathering all those feet in a relatively small and closed environment is just asking for problems.

[Krungbin]

11 hours ago, londonthai said:

the story is from 2012 to 2016. Something is amiss, that she allowed her big toe to get infected for 6 months or that she carried infections from thailand for 4 years. 

In thailand she could get this infection anywhere, walking on the beach, on the wet, flooded pavement, which are dirty. But no chance of getting it in a clean spa environment. Fish come from a special breeding tanks.

these small fish don't spread disease, they are used as a cosmetic procedure, as well as medical one.

she sold story blaming the spa, but it was her negligence to ignore so many symptoms for so many years. Instead, she should blame doctors, for not caring proper check ups.

The Sun will sell more copies from this poor story, with bold capital and underlined letters HOLIDAY FROM HELL than nude girls from page 3

Pretty good analysis.

[oldrunner]

I always thought good looking girls from down under were smarter than that. She surely wouldn't let a man with the tip of his hoho infected put it into her hehe.

[Destiny1990]

Maybe next time she can try her hand.

[StayinThailand2much]

7 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

The fish themselves cannot be disinfected or sanitized between customers. Due to the cost of the fish, salon owners are likely to use the same fish multiple times with different customers, which increases the risk of spreading infection.

Here we go...

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Just now, StayinThailand2much said:

Here we go...

 

That's not a statement from me. That's part of a statement I posted above quoting the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. fyi.

 

[StayinThailand2much]

4 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

That's not a statement from me. That's part of a statement I posted above quoting the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. fyi.

 

I didn't imply that. I just quoted your quote, which may explain what happened.

[Damrongsak]

Any chance her last name is pronounced "Cuttoes"?

[hotchilli]

Four years later, while on holiday in Thailand in 2010

 

Thanks for the belated warning !!

[lvr181]

10 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

It’s a revolting practice, from a personal hygiene perspective. 

 

I wouldn’t do it for sure, but the linked story makes clear that there was a series of events over a period of years that led to this unfortunate woman’s current situation. . 

?

[Dick Crank]

anyone else notice the first two words of the story "property manager"?

 

what does her occupation have to do with anything?

[metisdead]

An incomprehensible post and a reply has been removed:

 

Quote

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[Goethe]

20 hours ago, mok199 said:

you may grow another inch or a ''foot'', but its impossible to grow another ''toe''

 

[Goethe]

"Fish come from a special breeding tanks.

these small fish don't spread disease, they are used as a cosmetic procedure, as well as medical one."

 

Yes, that's why these "fish spas" have been banned in several countries...

[OneMoreFarang]

3 hours ago, Goethe said:

"Fish come from a special breeding tanks.

these small fish don't spread disease, they are used as a cosmetic procedure, as well as medical one."

 

Yes, that's why these "fish spas" have been banned in several countries...

And what happens after the treatment of one person? Are all the fish killed or more likely flushed living down the drain?

Or are the fish, which were just in contact with maybe a sick person, used again?

[StayinThailand2much]

6 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

And what happens after the treatment of one person? Are all the fish killed or more likely flushed living down the drain?

Or are the fish, which were just in contact with maybe a sick person, used again?

Well, considering how 'cost-conscious' (not using another word) Thai businesses are, I would not be surprised if they kept the fish for their entire life span, which is what, one year?

[OneMoreFarang]

I just have a business idea.

Baby Piranhas instead of those micro fish.

I am sure they will clean the feet thoroughly - to the bone.

Same same - but different.