Abstract
BackgroundSkin flora varies from one site of the body to another. Individual’s health, age and gender determine the type and the density of skin flora.MethodsA 1 cm2 of the skin on the sternum was rubbed with sterile cotton swab socked in 0.9% normal saline and plated on blood agar. This was cultured at 35°C. The bacteria were identified by culturing on MacConkey agar, coagulase test, catalase test and gram staining. Swabs were obtained from 66 individuals affected by albinism and 31 individuals with normal skin pigmentation. Those with normal skin were either relatives or staying with the individuals affected by albinism who were recruited for the study.ResultsThe mean age of the 97 recruited individuals was 30.6 (SD ± 14.9) years. The mean of the colony forming units was 1580.5 per cm2. Those affected by albinism had a significantly higher mean colony forming units (1680 CFU per cm2) as compared with 453.5 CFU per cm2 in those with normally pigmented skin (p = 0.023). The skin type and the severity of sun- damaged skin was significantly associated with a higher number of colony forming units (p = 0.038).ConclusionIndividuals affected by albinism have a higher number of colony forming units which is associated with sun- damaged skin.
Highlights
Skin flora varies from one site of the body to another
Human skin microbiome refers to entire collection of microbes which include bacteria, archaebacteria, fungi, virus and mites [1]
It was noticed that infected wounds were encountered more often in those affected by albinism than those who were not
Summary
Skin flora varies from one site of the body to another. Individual’s health, age and gender determine the type and the density of skin flora. Methods: A 1 cm of the skin on the sternum was rubbed with sterile cotton swab socked in 0.9% normal saline and plated on blood agar. Swabs were obtained from 66 individuals affected by albinism and 31 individuals with normal skin pigmentation. Some bacteria have factitious growth requirements and are difficult to isolate [1] Microbial genomics such as pyrosequencing is used to examine the entire complex microbial inhabitants [1]. The objective of this study was to determine and to compare the normal aerobic bacterial skin flora in Africans affected with Albinism with those with normally pigmented skin
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