Skin Colonization With Staphylococcus Aureus In Patients With Atopic Dermatitis

Objectives: To investigate the presence of S. aureus in the skin of AD patients and compare with healthy control group. Patients/Methods: Forty patients with AD were recruited in to our study. S. aureus skin colonization was determined in AD patients and controls, also skin distribution of S. aureus colonization was compared in three age groups of AD patients. Results: S. aureus was found on the skin of 42.5% and 7.5% of AD patients and control group, respectively (p=0.0003). The most common involved skin areas with S. aureus colonization were face (in ≤2 yrs old), flexor surfaces (in >2 and ≤12 yrs old) and extremities (in >12 yrs old). Conclusions: The incidence of S. aureus on the skin of AD patients was considerably higher rather than controls. Further studies are needed to investigate the clearance of S. aureus from the skin of AD patients using anti-staphylococcal treatment. The work was done at Department of Dermatology and Microbiology of Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.