Staphylococcus aureus colonization in atopic eczema and its association with filaggrin gene mutations

TY - JOUR

T1 - Staphylococcus aureus colonization in atopic eczema and its association with filaggrin gene mutations

AU - Clausen, M. L.

AU - Edslev, S. M.

AU - Andersen, P. S.

AU - Clemmensen, K.

AU - Krogfelt, K. A.

AU - Agner, T.

PY - 2017/11

Y1 - 2017/11

N2 - Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a prevalent disease with significant impact on physical health and quality of life. Staphylococcus aureus has been directly correlated to disease severity, and may also be a contributing causal factor in the pathogenesis of AD. Objectives: The primary aim was to assess differences in S. aureus colonization in patients with AD with and without filaggrin gene mutations. The secondary aim was to assess disease severity in relation to S. aureus colonization. Exploratory analyses were performed to investigate S. aureus genetic lineages in relation to filaggrin gene (FLG) mutations and disease severity. Methods: Adult patients with AD (n = 101) were included in the study. Bacterial swabs were taken from lesional skin, nonlesional skin and the nose. Swabs positive for S. aureus were characterized by spa and the respective clonal complex (CC) type assigned. Patients were characterized with respect to disease severity (Scoring Atopic Dermatitis) and FLG mutations (n = 88). Fisher's exact test was used to analyse differences in S. aureus colonization in relation to FLG mutations. Results: Of the 101 patients included, 74 (73%) were colonized with S. aureus. Of the colonized patients, 70 (95%) carried only one CC type in all three different sampling sites. In lesional skin, S. aureus was found in 24 of 31 patients with FLG mutations vs. 24 of 54 wild-type patients (P = 0·0004). Staphylococcus aureusCC1 clonal lineage was more prevalent in patients with FLG mutations (n = 10) than in wild-type patients (n = 2) (P = 0·003). No specific bacterial lineage was linked to disease severity. Conclusions: Increased S. aureus colonization in patients with AD with FLG mutations, and increased prevalence of CC1 in patients with FLG mutations, suggest that host–microbe interactions and clonal differences in S. aureus are important for colonization of AD skin.

AB - Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a prevalent disease with significant impact on physical health and quality of life. Staphylococcus aureus has been directly correlated to disease severity, and may also be a contributing causal factor in the pathogenesis of AD. Objectives: The primary aim was to assess differences in S. aureus colonization in patients with AD with and without filaggrin gene mutations. The secondary aim was to assess disease severity in relation to S. aureus colonization. Exploratory analyses were performed to investigate S. aureus genetic lineages in relation to filaggrin gene (FLG) mutations and disease severity. Methods: Adult patients with AD (n = 101) were included in the study. Bacterial swabs were taken from lesional skin, nonlesional skin and the nose. Swabs positive for S. aureus were characterized by spa and the respective clonal complex (CC) type assigned. Patients were characterized with respect to disease severity (Scoring Atopic Dermatitis) and FLG mutations (n = 88). Fisher's exact test was used to analyse differences in S. aureus colonization in relation to FLG mutations. Results: Of the 101 patients included, 74 (73%) were colonized with S. aureus. Of the colonized patients, 70 (95%) carried only one CC type in all three different sampling sites. In lesional skin, S. aureus was found in 24 of 31 patients with FLG mutations vs. 24 of 54 wild-type patients (P = 0·0004). Staphylococcus aureusCC1 clonal lineage was more prevalent in patients with FLG mutations (n = 10) than in wild-type patients (n = 2) (P = 0·003). No specific bacterial lineage was linked to disease severity. Conclusions: Increased S. aureus colonization in patients with AD with FLG mutations, and increased prevalence of CC1 in patients with FLG mutations, suggest that host–microbe interactions and clonal differences in S. aureus are important for colonization of AD skin.

U2 - 10.1111/bjd.15470

DO - 10.1111/bjd.15470

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 28317091

AN - SCOPUS:85026478588

SN - 0007-0963

VL - 177

SP - 1394

EP - 1400

JO - British Journal of Dermatology

JF - British Journal of Dermatology

IS - 5

ER -