Overview
- Claudia Ruffin, 27, reported falling ill within hours of a February 2024 manicure in Double Bay, experiencing a racing heart, blurred vision, numbness and red streaks up her arm.
- Doctors at St Vincent’s Hospital identified a severe Strep infection that escalated to sepsis and initiated urgent treatment.
- She underwent six surgeries over roughly two weeks, received a skin graft and 48 stitches, and had part of her thumb amputated to stop the spread.
- Ruffin says a cut cuticle and shared, unsterilised tools at the salon caused the infection, a claim not supported by reported regulatory findings.
- Despite reconstructive surgery she reports limited thumb function and is urging customers to use certified salons, as experts note sepsis affects more than 55,000 Australians each year.