Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Colonization in Lesional and Non-Lesional Skin of Children with and without Atopic Dermatitis

Background: Staphylococcus aureus (SA) is highly susceptible for colonization in atopic dermatitis (AD) lesions, leading to the aggravation of the disease. We aimed to determine the extent of SA and MRSA colonization in lesional and non-lesional skin of children with AD and its comparison with that of healthy children, as well as to investigate the antibiotic sensitivity of isolated SA. Method: In this cross-sectional study, skin swabs from both lesional and non-lesional regions of 100 children with AD (case group) and one region of the skin of 100 children without AD (control group) were collected and investigated in terms of the existence of SA and MRSA. Antibiotics susceptibility tests were performed on isolated SA. The severity of disease was determined based on the SCORAD criteria. Results: The rates of SA colonization in the case and control groups were 21 and 4%, respectively. The MRSA colonization rates in lesional and nonlesional skin were 36.7 and 4.16%, respectively, in the case group, compared with 25% in the control group, which was not statistically significant. All isolated MRSA were community-acquired. SA and MRSA colonization rates had a direct relationship with disease severity. A family history of atopy increased the rate of SA colonization. The highest and lowest antibiotics resistances were reported for penicillin (100%) and vancomycin (0%), respectively. Conclusion: Considering the high resistance to conventional antibiotics (penicillin, oxacilin, and erythromycin), cultures and antibiotics susceptibility tests are recommended for the treatment of secondary AD infections.