Bacteriotherapy for the skin

Abstract

Medicine Atopic dermatitis, a form of eczema, can be exacerbated by colonization of the affected skin with Staphylococcus aureus . Nakatsuji et al. report a phase 1 clinical trial of Staphylococcus hominis A9 ( Sh A9) as a topical treatment for atopic dermatitis. Sh A9 is found on the skin of healthy people and selectively inhibits strains of S. aureus that have been associated with atopic dermatitis. It also improves atopic dermatitis in mice. The authors report that Sh A9 treatment did not cause serious adverse events, and S. aureus abundance was reduced, even during a short 7-day trial. Additionally, application of Sh A9 altered the microbial composition on affected skin, suggesting that the treatment induces a more beneficial skin microbiota. Nat. Med. 10.1038/s41591-021-01256-2 (2021).