Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 2, 2026

Purifying the Impure: Sequencing Metagenomes and Metatranscriptomes from Complex Animal-associated Samples
11:23

Purifying the Impure: Sequencing Metagenomes and Metatranscriptomes from Complex Animal-associated Samples

Published on: December 22, 2014

Skin microflora of atopic eczema in first time hospital attenders

H M Goodyear1, P J Watson, S A Egan

  • 1Department of Paediatric Dermatology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital for Children, London, UK.

Clinical and Experimental Dermatology
|July 1, 1993
PubMed

Insights

Children with eczema show significantly higher levels of skin bacteria, particularly Staphylococcus aureus, compared to healthy children. Bacterial density correlates with eczema severity, and many strains exhibit antibiotic resistance.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Microbiology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Eczema, a common inflammatory skin condition, is often associated with bacterial skin colonization.
  • Understanding the specific bacterial flora in children with eczema is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantitatively assess and compare the skin bacterial flora in children with eczema versus non-atopic controls.
  • To identify the predominant bacterial species, particularly Staphylococcus aureus, and their colonization sites.
  • To investigate the relationship between bacterial density, eczema severity, and antibiotic resistance patterns.

Main Methods:

  • Quantitative bacterial assessment using cotton-tipped swabs and contact agar discs from affected and unaffected skin sites in 50 children with eczema and 20 controls.
  • Swabs also collected from nose, axilla, and groin for comprehensive flora analysis.
  • Isolation and identification of bacterial species, including Staphylococcus aureus, with phage typing and antibiotic susceptibility testing.

Main Results:

  • Significantly higher prevalence and quantity of skin bacterial colonization in children with eczema compared to controls.
  • Staphylococcus aureus was the most common pathogen, isolated from 74% of eczema lesions and 30% of unaffected skin sites.
  • Bacterial density was directly proportional to eczema severity.
  • Staphylococcus aureus phage group II was most common (32%); 88% of strains were penicillin-resistant, and 38% were resistant to multiple antibiotics.

Conclusions:

  • Children with eczema exhibit increased and denser skin bacterial colonization, especially by Staphylococcus aureus.
  • The findings highlight the importance of addressing bacterial load and antibiotic resistance in eczema management.
  • Further research into the clinical implications of specific S. aureus phage groups and resistance patterns is warranted.

More Related Videos

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels05:31

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels

Published on: August 7, 2017

Resolving Water, Proteins, and Lipids from In Vivo Confocal Raman Spectra of Stratum Corneum through a Chemometric Approach09:32

Resolving Water, Proteins, and Lipids from In Vivo Confocal Raman Spectra of Stratum Corneum through a Chemometric Approach

Published on: September 26, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
The Skin Microbiota01:27

The Skin Microbiota

The human skin serves as a complex ecosystem inhabited by a diverse community of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This microbiome plays a critical role in maintaining skin health and defending against pathogenic invaders. The composition of microbial communities varies significantly across different regions of the body, influenced primarily by the local levels of moisture and sebum.Regional Variation in Skin MicrobiotaCutibacterium acnes predominantly colonizes sebaceous...
Microbiome of the Eye01:22

Microbiome of the Eye

The human eye has a specialized microbiota that reflects its unique anatomical and immunological environment. This low-biomass microbial community predominantly colonizes the conjunctiva and eyelid margins, playing a vital role in ocular surface homeostasis and defense. Despite its proximity to the richly colonized facial skin, the ocular surface maintains a distinct microbial profile due to continuous mechanical and biochemical defense mechanisms.The conjunctival surface hosts fewer microbial...
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract01:29

Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract

The human respiratory tract, comprising the upper and lower segments, serves as a critical interface with the external environment. The upper respiratory tract (URT)—including the nostrils, sinuses, pharynx, and oropharynx—is heavily colonized by microbes, while the lower respiratory tract (LRT), composed of the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs, was long thought to be sterile. However, recent molecular studies have revealed that the lungs are not devoid of microbes but act more like...
Staphylococcal Skin Infections01:29

Staphylococcal Skin Infections

Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive coccus that resides harmlessly on the skin and mucous membranes of healthy individuals. When the skin barrier is breached, it can shift from a commensal to an opportunistic pathogen. This transition is facilitated by surface adhesins, such as clumping factor B and S. aureus surface protein G (SasG), which bind to structural proteins, including loricrin and cytokeratin, in the damaged epidermis. Protein A, another key factor, binds the Fc region of...