Possibly treated fungal by accident - help!

[chelleybobs]

I'm a newbie and having recently completed my training, am currently having a few practises on friends and family.
Went to a friends house last night to do a pedicure - as I examined her feet she said 'I think I may have a fungal nail infection' and pointed to her big toe. On the one side there was a small amount of white stuff ON the nail plate. To be honest, to maybe my untrained eye, I would not have noticed it and just thought it was some, cuticle, dead skin etc. To be honest it hardly looked like anything to me, so I went ahead and did the pedicure. Now I'm wondering if I've done the wrong thing! I kept my gloves on until the massage and painting, I have read elsewhere that cross contanimation from varnish is unlikely, I have wiped down my equipment with anti bacterial wipes, washed my towels on a hot wash, I guess it is my tools I am worried about. Am I ok to wash them and sterilise in Barbicide, or will I need to get new ones?
Please help, as I have someone else coming for a manicure and I don't want to risk infecting them, so need to know if I need to get new tools before tonight!

 

[Envy]

Ok firstly barbicide is not a sterilizer...

Read the link below for the correct sanitation and definitions. It will help alot with what to do and when
Sanitation in the salon

Second - the possible infection... Generally a fungal toe nail will be thickened. Spongy and breaking up.
It is unlikely what you saw was fungal, but not impossible... Only a doctor taking a swab for culturing could confirm this properly. If you are nervous simply throw away the file you used on this toe and ensure to thoroughly disinfect your other impliments...

As you mentions nail polish will not harbor pathogens so no need to worry

Hths

 

[chelleybobs]

Hey thanks for your reply it has really helped put my mind at rest so thanks.

Bit confused re. the barbicide, quote my work book I was given when training:
" There are various ways in which the therapist can control and eliminate the spread of bacteria, viruses and fungi in the salon and sterilisation is the most effective procedure...Chemical agents like gluteraldehyde (as found in cidex and barbicide) used in high concentration can sterilise equipment in the beauty salon."
Guess I was given the wrong info?

 

[KirstieLou]

Barbicide maintains sterilisation x

 

[chelleybobs]

Ok I think I have read it wrong - I think the quote from my book must be referring to maybe specialist equipment in a salon - not implements used by a nail tech. As you say - we are not handling bodily fluids (hopefully!)
So long as I am still doing he right things soaking my tools in barbicide, and not missing anything then that's ok.
Thanks for the link to the article - it's very informative.
Just got a bit confused is all

 

[Envy]

Hey thanks for your reply it has really helped put my mind at rest so thanks.

Bit confused re. the barbicide, quote my work book I was given when training:
" There are various ways in which the therapist can control and eliminate the spread of bacteria, viruses and fungi in the salon and sterilisation is the most effective procedure...Chemical agents like gluteraldehyde (as found in cidex and barbicide) used in high concentration can sterilise equipment in the beauty salon."
Guess I was given the wrong info?

Barbicide's active ingredient is Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, not gluteraldehyde...
Even if it did it would need to be in dangerously high concentrations and soaked for 22 hours+ to achieve sterilisation

Barbicide maintains sterilisation x

You both may have been taught this, but it is incorrect. Barbacide is a good disinfectant. But not a steriliser - again the link I provided earlier explains the differences. Just because it is in a text book does not mean the author is upto date or using the correct terminology...

Hope that helps - this is important stuff to know and I really hope you take the time to understand it...

 

[KirstieLou]

Barbicide's active ingredient is Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, not gluteraldehyde...
Even if it did it would need to be in dangerously high concentrations and soaked for 22 hours+ to achieve sterilisation



You both may have been taught this, but it is incorrect. Barbacide is a good disinfectant. But not a steriliser - again the link I provided earlier explains the differences. Just because it is in a text book does not mean the author is upto date or using the correct terminology...

Hope that helps - this is important stuff to know and I really hope you take the time to understand it...

Thank you I kinda knew what it is but my terminology sucks too lol. It's all in my head but I am useless at explaining xx

 

[Envy]

Thank you I kinda knew what it is but my terminology sucks too lol. It's all in my head but I am useless at explaining xx

Not a problem chick - but as we saw above even text books can be out of date and confuse us and the public ... I had one tech ask to be sterilized before I did her nails... I was tempted...