Primary skin abscess microbiota a systematic review.

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Dermatology

Background:

• Abscesses are pus collections in tissue, commonly linked to infection but not exclusively.
• Primary skin abscesses can occur independently or as part of conditions like hidradenitis suppurativa (HS).
• Distinguishing primary skin abscesses from HS is crucial, as HS is noninfectious yet presents similar symptoms.

Approach:

• Systematic literature review of studies on bacteria-positive primary skin abscesses.
• Searched EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library for microbiome data in skin abscesses.
• Included 11 studies meeting criteria: >10 patients, skin abscess microbiome data, English/Danish language.

Key Points:

• Staphylococcus aureus is frequently identified as the dominant bacterium in primary skin abscesses.
• Primary skin abscess microbiomes contrast with the polymicrobial nature typically seen in HS.
• Exclusion criteria focused on HS-related abscesses, non-skin samples, and limited data.

Conclusions:

• The microbiome of primary skin abscesses appears to be dominated by S. aureus.
• Understanding the distinct microbial profiles aids in differential diagnosis and potential treatment strategies.
• Further research into skin abscess microbiota can inform clinical management.