Premium
Resident and Transient Bacteria of the Skin
Author(s) -
SomervilleMillar Dorothy A.,
Noble W. C.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
journal of cutaneous pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1600-0560
pISSN - 0303-6987
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0560.1974.tb00637.x
Subject(s) - bacteria , typing , dermatology , pathology , medicine , carriage , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics
Although essential to a good understanding of human cutaneous infections, studies on long term carriage of skin bacteria are rare, perhaps because there are few adequate typing schemes with which to identify organisms accurately. A seven month qualitative study of two individuals showed that three groups of organisms – residents, “nomads” and transients – could be identified. Quantitative study of 12 individuals suggested that while the standard deviation of the mean count in a series of residents may reach 25% of the mean count, in transients it may be far higher. Statistical methods might therefore be employed in determining the status of cutaneous bacteria.