Occurrence of Gram Positive Bacteria among Saudi Children with Atopic Dermatitis

Objectives: to determine the occurrences of bacterial colonization of atopic dermatitis in children of Qassim region in Saudi Arabian Methods. In a hospital-based study we collected 2 swabs, one from lesional skin and the other from a healthy skin area as healthy control from 80 children with atopic dermatitis. Isolation and identification were done by colony morphology, Gram stain and the automated Vitek System. The majority of children were below 5 years of age. Results: The mean age was 1.4 with a SD of 0.74. Bacterial colonies were grown from all patients in lesion and non-lesional skin with more species in lesional skin. Gram positive cocci, bacilli and mixed colonies were grown. S. aureus, S. hemolyticus, S. auricularis, S. warnerii, S. simulans, S. scurii, S. capitis, S. xylosus, S. cohnii and S. hominis were more in the lesion whereas S. epidermidis was found to be more in nonlesional skin. Enterococci, commonly Ent. Faecalis, Ent. Faecium and Ent. gallinarium were isolated mostly from lesions. Other less common isolates were Corynebactericae as C. xerosis and C. minutissimum. Conclusions: Bacterial colonization is more frequent in atopic dermatitis than in normal skin. Staphylococcal species predominate. Streptococci, Corynebactericae and Enterococci are significant inhabitant of atopic dermatitis. Keyword: Skin lesion, Colonization, Atopic Dermatitis ____________________________________________________________________________________ INTRODUCTION Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory pruritic skin disease affecting children and adults. The onset occurs in 45% of children during the first 6 months of life, 60% during the first year and before 5 years in about 85% of affected individuals. The estimated prevalence worldwide is ranging from 1% to 20% (1). Treatment of atopic dermatitis accounts for a significant amount of health service financial resources, clinical time and place a burden on the child, family and society (2). Atopic dermatitis was found to be predominant in children in Qassim region, Saudi Arabia (3). The diagnostic criteria for atopic dermatitis had been set by Hanifin and Rajka in 1980 (4). Bacterial and viral infections often nonspecifically aggravate atopic dermatitis (5). "Immunomodulatory pathways in atopic dermatitis may have important implications from a therapeutic point of view because patients with atopic dermatitis may benefit from more than just anti-inflammatory treatment in the future" (6). Staphylococcus aureus infection was found to be the leading cause of infection of atopic dermatitis and that antibacterial treatment is OCCURRENCE OF GRAM POSITIVE BACTERIA AMONG SAUDI CHILDREN WITH ATOPIC DERMATITIS Mohammad Issa Ahmad 1 , Jalal Ali. Bilal 2 , Ahmad Al Robaee 3 , Abdullateef A. Alzolibani 3 , Hani A. Al Shobaili 3 , Muhammad Shahzad 3 , Ibrahim Hassan. Babiker 1 1 Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, BuraydahKingdom of Saudi Arabia 2 Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia 3 Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia E-mail of Corresponding Author: [email protected]