title: The effects of antiperspirant on the perineal skin flora of patients with spinal cord injury.
abstract: The relationship of pH and moisture to Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae colonization of the perineal skin was studied in male patients with spinal cord injury. The increased pH of the perineal skin was significantly associated with the presence of P. aeruginosa but not other bacterial species. No correlation between colonization and moisture or pH and moisture was found. An antiperspirant produced a significant reduction in the number of total aerobic bacteria, total gram-negative bacilli, P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae over a 24-h period. Long-term use of the antiperspirant for 10 days did not alter the persistence of P. aeruginosa of the same serotypes on the perineum.
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California, School of Medicine, Los Angeles 90033.
authors.forename: J Z
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Montgomerie
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Gilmore
authors.forename: I E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Schick
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001252:Astringents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010502:Perineum / Q000382:microbiology*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000382:microbiology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001252:Astringents