Jv. Williams et al., Staphylococcus aureus isolation from the lesions, the hands, and anterior nares of patients with atopic dermatitis, J EMERG MED, 17(1), 1999, pp. 207-211
Staphylococcus aureus colonization is common in atopic dermatitis (AD) and
can exacerbate the disease. Some patients with atopic dermatitis may act as
a reservoir for S. aureus transmission to others. This study compared S, a
ureus colonization in atopic dermatitis patients and their caregivers; with
control patients and their caregivers, Quantitative cultures were obtained
from the lesions, clinically normal skin, hands, and anterior nares of 100
patients with atopic dermatitis, 100 controls with other cutaneous disorde
rs, and 200 caregivers, The AD patients had significantly greater presence
of S aureus from lesional and clinically normal skin, as well as the hand.
Significantly increased carriage of S, aureus was found in the anterior nar
es of caretakers of AD patients compared with control caretakers. Topical c
orticosteroid use did not affect recovery. of S. aureus, There was a signif
icant correlation between recovery of S, aureus from lesional skin and reco
very from the anterior nares and hands. The nares and hands may be importan
t reservoirs and vectors for autotransmission of S, aureus to lesional skin
and for transmission to patients with AD. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.