The effect of UVB radiation on skin microbiota in patients with atopic dermatitis and healthy controls.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis quantitatively in adult patients with atopic dermatitis and in healthy controls treated with UVB radiation.


METHODS
Twenty-three adult patients (of these, 3 were excluded) with flexural atopic dermatitis and 20 healthy controls were randomly selected at the outpatient clinic of the Dermatological Department, University Hospital, North Norway.


METHODS
Adult patients with atopic dermatitis (n = 20) and healthy controls (n = 20) were given 20 UVB treatments. Bacterial samples were collected before treatment, after 4 weeks of treatment, and finally after 2 weeks follow-up.


RESULTS
The main bacteria found were Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. 16 of the 20 patients with atopic dermatitis had Staphylococcus aureus in lesional skin and 12 in non-lesional skin. None of the healthy controls had Staphylococcus aureus in the sample from the flexural elbow. The Staphylococcus aureus counts decreased (not significant) in lesional skin after 4 weeks of treatment and Staphylococcus aureus counts were slightly higher after 2 weeks follow up. The same figures were also seen in non-lesional skin and forehead.


CONCLUSIONS
Staphylococcus aureus is widely colonised in the skin of atopic dermatitis patients, but is rare in healthy adults. UVB treatment decreases the Staphylococcus aureus count in patients with atopic dermatitis.
Dotterud
Lars Kåre
LK
Department of Dermatology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University Hospital of North, Norway. larskd@start.no
Wilsgaard
Tom
T
Vorland
Lars H
LH
Falk
Edvard S
ES