title: Staphylococcus aureus colonization related to severity of hand eczema.
abstract: Knowledge on Staphylococcus aureus colonization rates and epidemiology in hand eczema is limited. The aim of this study was to clarify some of these issues. Samples were collected by the "glove juice" method from the hands of 59 patients with chronic hand eczema and 24 healthy individuals. Swab samples were taken from anterior nares and throat from 43 of the 59 patients and all healthy individuals. S. aureus were spa typed and analysed by DNA-microarray-based genotyping. The extent of the eczema was evaluated by the hand eczema extent score (HEES). The colonization rate was higher on the hands of hand eczema patients (69 %) compared to healthy individuals (21 %, p < 0.001). This was also seen for bacterial density (p = 0.002). Patients with severe hand eczema (HEES ≥ 13) had a significantly higher S. aureus density on their hands compared to those with milder eczema (HEES = 1 to 12, p = 0.004). There was no difference between patients and healthy individuals regarding colonization rates in anterior nares or throat. spa typing and DNA-microarray-based genotyping indicated certain types more prone to colonize eczematous skin. Simultaneous colonization, in one individual, with S. aureus of different types, was identified in 60-85 % of the study subjects. The colonization rate and density indicate a need for effective treatment of eczema and may have an impact on infection control in healthcare.
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Laboratory, Division of Medical Diagnostics, Region Jönköping County, Ryhov County Hospital, Försörjningsvägen 8, S - 551 85, Jönköping, Sweden. sara.mernelius@rjl.se.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mernelius
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Laboratory, Division of Medical Diagnostics, Region Jönköping County, Ryhov County Hospital, Försörjningsvägen 8, S - 551 85, Jönköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carlsson
authors.affiliation: Allergy Centre and Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Henricson
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Laboratory, Division of Medical Diagnostics, Region Jönköping County, Ryhov County Hospital, Försörjningsvägen 8, S - 551 85, Jönköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Löfgren
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Laboratory, Division of Medical Diagnostics, Region Jönköping County, Ryhov County Hospital, Försörjningsvägen 8, S - 551 85, Jönköping, Sweden.|Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: P-E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Lindgren
authors.affiliation: Alere Technologies GmbH, Jena, Germany.|InfectoGnostics, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ehricht
authors.affiliation: Alere Technologies GmbH, Jena, Germany.|InfectoGnostics, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Monecke
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Laboratory, Division of Medical Diagnostics, Region Jönköping County, Ryhov County Hospital, Försörjningsvägen 8, S - 551 85, Jönköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matussek
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, and Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D004485:Eczema / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D058889:Molecular Typing; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D013207:Staphylococcal Skin Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents