Cutaneous microflora of patients with repeated skin infections

The microflora of normal skin in 16 patients with repeated staphylococcal and streptococcal skin infections was examined to determine whether abnormalities existed which would indicate a protective role for the indigenous flora against colonization by pathogens. Five sites-hands, feet, axilla, groin and back-were examined quantitatively and qualitatively and compared with a control group. Total populations of indigenous flora were significantly higher from patients with repeated skin infections of the back, axillae and feet. The frequency of isolation of different species from normal skin was comparable between the control and experimental groups, with the exception of the incidence of Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus species which were isolated only from patients with repeated skin infections. Gram-negative bacteria were isolated with comparable frequency between the two groups, but patients with repeated skin infections tended to carry gram-negative bacteria on multiple sites. It was concluded from the high population of indigenous flora and the types of microogranisms present that the microflora of normal skin did not appear to protect patients with repeated skin infections against colonization by pathogens. The presence of high populations of Staphylococcus aureus on the normal skin of patients with repeated skin infections would appear to be the most important contributing factor.