Bacteriological profile in atopic dermatitis: comparison between normal and lesional sk

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the bacteriological profile and to compare the bacteriological profile between normal and lesional skin in patients of atopic dermatitis. Patients and methods Fifty patients of atopic dermatitis according to clinical criteria of Hanifin and Rajka were selected. Swabs for culture and sensitivity were taken from normal and lesional skin and culture and sensitivity done to know the bacteriological profile in each case. Results Cultures were positive in 96% of lesional and 58% from the non-lesional swabs. In the swabs taken from lesional skin, Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 42% of the samples, followed by Staph epidermidis from 12% of the swabs. Streptococci were isolated from 8% cases, followed by Pseudomonas, both Staph.+ Strepto and diphtheroids and yeast cells from 6% cases each. Enterococcus and Klebsiella were found in 4% each, Proteus, Escherichia coli, E. coli + Enterococcus and Staph. + Enterococcus in 2% cases each. 4% of the samples did not show growth of any microbe.Among the swabs taken from non-lesional skin, 42% cases did not show growth of any microbe. Staph epidermidis was isolated from 30% cases, followed by Staph aureus from 22% cases and diphtheroids and yeast cells from 6% of the cases. Conclusion Staphylococcus aureus is the predominant organism in lesional skin, followed by coagulase negative staphylococci in both lesional and non-lesional skin in atopic patients. The isolates showed maximum sensitivity to amikacin, ampicillin and gentamicin upon antibiotic sensitivity testing.