Skin colonization of Staphylococcus aureus in atopic dermatitis patients seen at the National Skin Centre, Singapore

This study confirmed that the skin of patients with atopic dermatitis was more frequently colonized with S. aureus than that of non-atopics. The more severe the dermatitis, the higher the rate of colonization. S. aureus is also more of than present in non-eczematous skin of atopics than of non-atopics. There is also a higher percentage of S. aureus nasal carriage in patients with atopic dermatitis than in non-atopics. Hence antibiotics may have a role in the treatment of atopic dermatitis. Because 87% of S. aureus is resistant to penicillin and ampicillin, antibiotics such as cloxacillin and cephalexin should be used to eradicate S. aureus in the skin of atopic dermatitis individuals.