[Relationship between an offensive smell given off from human foot and Staphylococcus epidermidis].
The bacteria isolated from foot skins of 17 volunteers by the swab sampling method were mostly gram-positive cocci, which were identified as Staphylococcus epidermidis by the ID-kit SP-18 (Nissui Co., Ltd). After incubation of S. epidermidis on agar plates containing oleic acid and Tween 80 for 24 h at 35 C, the smell noticed was similar to an offensive smell of human pes. However, under the same conditions, the smell of another staphylococcal species was different from that of S. epidermidis. Except for the staphylococcal species, the colonies isolated from the skins were mostly those of yeast (unidentified) and gave off no offensive smell. From these results, it was considered that the smell of human pes might be given off by S. epidermidis, and if this species is inhibited, the smell would also be inhibited. A selective bactericide for gram-positive bacteria, which is a lotion containing deoxycholic acid, was applied to the feet of the 17 volunteers. The experiments showed that the application obviously decreased the counts of colonies of S. epidermidis and inhibited the smell as compared with controls.
Kobayashi
S
S
Laboratory of R & D, Koji-Honp Co., Ltd., Adachi-ku, Japan.
D000328:Adult; D003840:Deoxycholic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009812:Odorants / Q000517:prevention & control; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology*; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D003840:Deoxycholic Acid