A woman caught a flesh-eating bacteria from a manicure

A spa day turned nightmarish for a Tennessee woman after she caught a flesh-eating bacteria during a manicure.

Jayne Sharp said she contracted the life-threatening infection at a local nail salon, the New York Post reported.

Sharp said she “got stuck” by a sharp object in her thumb during her nail treatment, but didn’t think anything of it, according to the Post, until it started throbbing later that night. She later fell severely ill and was hospitalized. Emergency doctors diagnosed her with a flesh-eating disease called necrotizing fascitis.

After a series of surgeries, including removal of parts of her thumb, Sharp is recovering, and a state health inspector said the nail salon passed an inspection. Her doctor said she could have lost her arm if she hadn’t gotten to the hospital in time.

Necrotizing fasciitis can be caused by multiple types of bacteria, which can enter the body through an open wound if it isn’t properly treated. The condition can be treated by antibiotics, but only if it’s diagnosed in time.

Read more: A woman’s limbs were amputated after her dogs licked her and gave her a bacterial infection. Most dogs carry the same bacteria.

Necrotizing fasciitis occurs when a bacteria destroys soft tissue

The flesh-eating disease can happen when bacteria, including strep or e. Coli, enter the body through an open wound, causing pain and inflammation. As the disease progresses, common symptoms include fever and severe pain, and the infected area may turn red, purple, or even black, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

If not treated, the infection can spread and cause sepsis, organ failure, and even death, according to the CDC. About a third of cases are fatal.

Antibiotics can help treat the infection, but severe cases may require one or more surgeries called debridements to remove the infected skin and tissue. This can lead to scarring, and the worst cases may also require amputation of entire limbs to prevent the bacteria from spreading.

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The best way to avoid flesh-eating bacteria is to properly disinfect even small wounds

Anyone can contract necrotizing fasciitis, although the disease is relatively rare. Even a small wound, burn, or area of broken skin, including bug bites, can allow bacteria to enter, the CDC cautions.

The best way to protect yourself is to clean any injuries, even minor ones, with soap and water, or alcohol-based sanitizer. Keep wounds clean, dry, and bandaged until they are healed.

You can also reduce your exposure to dangerous bacteria by avoiding hot tubs, swimming pools, and natural bodies of water such as lakes if you have any open wounds or skin conditions.

Read more:

An Atlanta rapper says he’s battling a ‘skin-eating disease’ after being treated for a minor rash. Here’s what to know about it.

A Florida man died after losing 25% of his skin to flesh-eating bacteria. Experts say the infections will become more common as ocean water warms

A man had his arm amputated after eating raw seafood contaminated with a potentially flesh-eating bacteria