BACTERIAL FLORA OF THE NORMAL HUMAN SKIN

[摘要] Studies on 17 adults indicate that the normal bacterial flora of the skin is considerably different from that described in most text books. The most frequently encountered organism was Propionibacterium acnes. In appreciable numbers were found Micrococcus epidermidis, and Staphylococcus albus. Orange strains of S. aureus were infrequently encountered contrary to less pigmented strains. M. citreus was never isolated. Sebaceous glands appear to be the major sites of skin bacteria. Certain bacteria of the skin were active in preventing growth of other skin organisms. This antibiosis may be a factor in the bacterial ecology of the skin.