Staphylococcus epidermidis: a possible role in the pustules of rosacea

Margot Whitfeld; Nishmi Gunasingam; Liang Joo Leow; Kyoko Shirato; Veronica Preda

doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2009.12.036

Staphylococcus epidermidis: a possible role in the pustules of rosacea

Margot Whitfeld, Nishmi Gunasingam, Liang Joo Leow, Kyoko Shirato, Veronica Preda

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

82 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Rosacea is a common skin and ocular disease. Cutaneous rosacea is characterized by facial flushing, telangiectasia, papules, and pustules. It is generally regarded as inflammatory in nature. We believed that the role of bacteria as a contributory factor in pustular and ocular rosacea needed to be revisited.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to ascertain whether there is an increase in the bacteria isolated from the (1) pustules of rosacea; and (2) eyelid margins of persons with cutaneous pustular rosacea.

METHODS: Bacterial swabs were taken and cultured from an incised rosacea pustule, the ipsilateral cheek skin, and the eyelid margin of 15 patients with pustular rosacea. Swabs were also taken from the cheek skin and ipsilateral eyelid margin of 15 matched control subjects.

RESULTS: A pure growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis was isolated from a pustule of 9 of 15 patients with pustular rosacea, and no pure growth of S epidermidis was isolated from their ipsilateral cheek skin. This was a highly statistically significant increase (P = .0003). A pure growth of S epidermidis was isolated from the eyelid margins of 4 of 15 patients with pustular rosacea, and no pure growth was isolated from the eyelids of age- and sex-matched control subjects. This was a statistically significant increase (P = .05).

LIMITATIONS: This study focuses on the microbial basis of rosacea.

CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest S epidermidis may play a role in pustular and ocular rosacea.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	49-52
Number of pages	4
Journal	Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Volume	64
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2009.12.036
Publication status	Published - Jan 2011
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Case-Control Studies
Culture Media
Female
Humans
Male
Microbial Sensitivity Tests
Middle Aged
Reference Values
Risk Assessment
Rosacea
Severity of Illness Index
Staphylococcal Infections
Staphylococcus epidermidis
Young Adult
Comparative Study
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

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10.1016/j.jaad.2009.12.036

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title = "Staphylococcus epidermidis: a possible role in the pustules of rosacea",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Rosacea is a common skin and ocular disease. Cutaneous rosacea is characterized by facial flushing, telangiectasia, papules, and pustules. It is generally regarded as inflammatory in nature. We believed that the role of bacteria as a contributory factor in pustular and ocular rosacea needed to be revisited.OBJECTIVES: We sought to ascertain whether there is an increase in the bacteria isolated from the (1) pustules of rosacea; and (2) eyelid margins of persons with cutaneous pustular rosacea.METHODS: Bacterial swabs were taken and cultured from an incised rosacea pustule, the ipsilateral cheek skin, and the eyelid margin of 15 patients with pustular rosacea. Swabs were also taken from the cheek skin and ipsilateral eyelid margin of 15 matched control subjects.RESULTS: A pure growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis was isolated from a pustule of 9 of 15 patients with pustular rosacea, and no pure growth of S epidermidis was isolated from their ipsilateral cheek skin. This was a highly statistically significant increase (P = .0003). A pure growth of S epidermidis was isolated from the eyelid margins of 4 of 15 patients with pustular rosacea, and no pure growth was isolated from the eyelids of age- and sex-matched control subjects. This was a statistically significant increase (P = .05).LIMITATIONS: This study focuses on the microbial basis of rosacea.CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest S epidermidis may play a role in pustular and ocular rosacea.",

keywords = "Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Case-Control Studies, Culture Media, Female, Humans, Male, Microbial Sensitivity Tests, Middle Aged, Reference Values, Risk Assessment, Rosacea, Severity of Illness Index, Staphylococcal Infections, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Young Adult, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't",

author = "Margot Whitfeld and Nishmi Gunasingam and Leow, {Liang Joo} and Kyoko Shirato and Veronica Preda",

year = "2011",

month = jan,

doi = "10.1016/j.jaad.2009.12.036",

language = "English",

volume = "64",

pages = "49--52",

journal = "Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology",

issn = "0190-9622",

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number = "1",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Staphylococcus epidermidis

T2 - a possible role in the pustules of rosacea

AU - Whitfeld, Margot

AU - Gunasingam, Nishmi

AU - Leow, Liang Joo

AU - Shirato, Kyoko

AU - Preda, Veronica

PY - 2011/1

Y1 - 2011/1

N2 - BACKGROUND: Rosacea is a common skin and ocular disease. Cutaneous rosacea is characterized by facial flushing, telangiectasia, papules, and pustules. It is generally regarded as inflammatory in nature. We believed that the role of bacteria as a contributory factor in pustular and ocular rosacea needed to be revisited.OBJECTIVES: We sought to ascertain whether there is an increase in the bacteria isolated from the (1) pustules of rosacea; and (2) eyelid margins of persons with cutaneous pustular rosacea.METHODS: Bacterial swabs were taken and cultured from an incised rosacea pustule, the ipsilateral cheek skin, and the eyelid margin of 15 patients with pustular rosacea. Swabs were also taken from the cheek skin and ipsilateral eyelid margin of 15 matched control subjects.RESULTS: A pure growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis was isolated from a pustule of 9 of 15 patients with pustular rosacea, and no pure growth of S epidermidis was isolated from their ipsilateral cheek skin. This was a highly statistically significant increase (P = .0003). A pure growth of S epidermidis was isolated from the eyelid margins of 4 of 15 patients with pustular rosacea, and no pure growth was isolated from the eyelids of age- and sex-matched control subjects. This was a statistically significant increase (P = .05).LIMITATIONS: This study focuses on the microbial basis of rosacea.CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest S epidermidis may play a role in pustular and ocular rosacea.

AB - BACKGROUND: Rosacea is a common skin and ocular disease. Cutaneous rosacea is characterized by facial flushing, telangiectasia, papules, and pustules. It is generally regarded as inflammatory in nature. We believed that the role of bacteria as a contributory factor in pustular and ocular rosacea needed to be revisited.OBJECTIVES: We sought to ascertain whether there is an increase in the bacteria isolated from the (1) pustules of rosacea; and (2) eyelid margins of persons with cutaneous pustular rosacea.METHODS: Bacterial swabs were taken and cultured from an incised rosacea pustule, the ipsilateral cheek skin, and the eyelid margin of 15 patients with pustular rosacea. Swabs were also taken from the cheek skin and ipsilateral eyelid margin of 15 matched control subjects.RESULTS: A pure growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis was isolated from a pustule of 9 of 15 patients with pustular rosacea, and no pure growth of S epidermidis was isolated from their ipsilateral cheek skin. This was a highly statistically significant increase (P = .0003). A pure growth of S epidermidis was isolated from the eyelid margins of 4 of 15 patients with pustular rosacea, and no pure growth was isolated from the eyelids of age- and sex-matched control subjects. This was a statistically significant increase (P = .05).LIMITATIONS: This study focuses on the microbial basis of rosacea.CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest S epidermidis may play a role in pustular and ocular rosacea.

KW - Adolescent

KW - Adult

KW - Aged

KW - Anti-Bacterial Agents

KW - Case-Control Studies

KW - Culture Media

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Microbial Sensitivity Tests

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Reference Values

KW - Risk Assessment

KW - Rosacea

KW - Severity of Illness Index

KW - Staphylococcal Infections

KW - Staphylococcus epidermidis

KW - Young Adult

KW - Comparative Study

KW - Journal Article

KW - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

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DO - 10.1016/j.jaad.2009.12.036

M3 - Article

C2 - 20943287

SN - 0190-9622

VL - 64

SP - 49

EP - 52

JO - Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

JF - Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

IS - 1

ER -

Staphylococcus epidermidis: a possible role in the pustules of rosacea

Abstract

Keywords

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