title: Skin flora of patients in Thailand.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies taken from different hospitalized patient populations, environments, and geographic regions reveal differences in the numbers and species of organisms colonizing the skin. Our aim was to determine the types and amounts of skin flora, and examine the factors associated with variations in microbial skin flora in patients in Thailand.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 350 outpatients and 500 inpatients at Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. The skin at the forearm and the sternum of each patient was cultured by contact plate technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of skin flora colony-forming units (CFUs) were correlated to the site of sampling. There was a significant correlation of CFUs between samples from the forearm and the sternum in patients who were hospitalized (r = 0.6; P <.001) and in outpatients (r = 0.5; P <.001). The numbers of micro-organisms on the sternum was significantly greater than the number cultured from the forearm for all patients. Inpatients had significantly more organisms on the the forearm and sternum compared with outpatients. High counts (CFUs > 600) were found more frequently in patients who were hospitalized; had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes mellitus, or autoimmune diseases; and were undergoing operation and receiving antibiotics. Acinetobacter spp and methicillin-resistant Staphyloccoccus aureus were found more frequently in patients who were hospitalized.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Skin flora of patients in tertiary care hospitals in Thailand has higher CFUs, and A baumannii is prevalent, especially in patients who are hospitalized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Visanu
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Thamlikitkul
authors.forename: Somporn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Santiprasitkul
authors.forename: Luckna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Suntanondra
authors.forename: Sumalee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pakaworawuth
authors.forename: Surapee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tiangrim
authors.forename: Suthipol
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Udompunthurak
authors.forename: Somwang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Danchaivijitr
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010045:Outpatients; D011336:Probability; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology*; D013785:Thailand