The Importance Community Care in Patients With Atopic Dermatitis: Primary Caregives Can Share the Same Staphylococcus Aureus Colonization

RATIONALE: Staphylococcus aureus has a crucial importance in atopic dermatitis (AD) pathophysiology demanding treatment in reducing colonization. It is important to know the strain profile in patients and caregivers that shares the same place. We evaluated the prevalence o S.aureus colonization in AD patients and in their caregivers

METHODS:

A prospective study enrolled 27 children with moderated-severe atopic dermatitis. A swab for bacterial test was collected from nasal vestibule and acute lesions in AD patients and from nasal vestibule in their primary caregivers

Patients who used antibiotic therapy within 30 days of inclusion, who had cutaneous infections or who used systemic immunosuppressants were excluded.

RESULTS:

All patients had S.aureus colonization in at least one site, with acute lesion being the most frequent in (24/27), followed by the nose in (23/27).19 caregivers presented S.aureus in nasal vestibule. The presence of methicillin resistent S.aureus was detected in (9/23) patients in the nasal vestibule and (8/24) that had an acute lesion. Among the caregivers, 6/19 presented methicillin-resistant S.aureus in the nasal vestibule.

CONCLUSIONS:

High rates of S.aureus colonization including methicillin resistant S. aureus in patients with AD and their caregivers are a warning sign for therapeutic management that included strengthened of adequate hygiene measures in patients and cohabitants