Abstract
To elucidate a role of staphylococcus aureus colonized on the skin in infancy, we performed population based study in Chiba city, in which we examined all the infants who attended regular health check up at 4 months of age for presence and severity of atopic dermatitis and performed skin culture of staphylococcus aureus on the cheeks, then followed them at 18 months and 3 years of age. At 4 months and 18 months of age, frequency of staphylococcal colonization was associated with severity of atopic dermatitis. In addition, staphylococcal colonization in infants without atopic dermatitis was associated with the development of atopic dermatitis in later life. These results suggest that cutaneous colonization with staphylococcus aureus may be involved in not only the increased severity of atopic dermatitis but also the development of the disease in young children. Thus, inhibition of staphylococcus aureus colonization on the skin may be a candidate for prevention of atopic dermatitis in early childhood.
