Bacteriological aspects of Darier's disease

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Prevalence of bacterial colonization in Darier's disease (DD) lesional skin, nares, and perineum is not well-established.
• The role of bacterial colonization in the clinical manifestations of DD requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• Determine the prevalence of bacterial colonization, specifically Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), in lesional skin, nares, and perineum of DD patients.
• Assess the association between S. aureus colonization and disease severity, patient characteristics, and bacterial skin infection features in DD.
• Investigate the role of S. aureus in DD exacerbations.

Main Methods:

• Conducted medical interviews and physical examinations on 75 patients diagnosed with Darier's disease.
• Collected bacterial cultures from lesional skin, nares, and perineum swabs.

Main Results:

• Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) was detected in 68% of lesional skin cultures, 47% of nares cultures, and 22% of perineum cultures.
• Patients with S. aureus in lesional skin and/or nares exhibited significantly greater affected skin area and more severe disease.
• 40% of patients reported a history of bacterial skin infection, predominantly on the chest.

Conclusions:

• Darier's disease patients exhibit a high prevalence of S. aureus colonization in lesional skin and nares.
• A correlation exists between S. aureus colonization extent and DD disease severity.
• Further research on S. aureus eradication in these sites could inform treatment protocols for DD exacerbations.