. >> reporter: 63-year-old bruce walters says he remembered feeling some discomfort while he was getting a pedicure in his hometown in indiana. he didn't really think anything about it. but ten days later when he returned to d.c., he started feeling flu-like symptoms and confusion. >> i was not completing sentences and kind of disoriented. >> reporter: doctors at medstar georgetown university hospital found an infection raging through his body, especially in his leg, the most likely cause was bacteria that had entered his big toe during a pedicure. >> he was getting so much swelling in his leg that that was starting to cut off blood flow to his toes, and that all had to be released or he was going to lose his leg. >> reporter: health officials say infections from nail salons are very rare, but they do happen. maryland, d.c., and virginia each get anywhere from 30 to 45 complaints each year for things like unsanitary conditions and infections. but that's out of hundreds of salons. that number could be much higher, though, since many complaints are never reported. >> it's scary to realize