The Staphylococcus Aureus (Staph) skin germ plays a pivotal role in aggravating moderate to severe atopic eczema especially in children. Eczema first occurs in infancy but may persist through childhood into adulthood. Many factors have been implicated in causing and promoting eczema such as our gene makeup (atopy), skin allergy (to dust mites, pet dander and food allergens) and skin damage. The common skin Staph bacterium carried on our skin plays an important role in triggering eczema exacerbations. While 10 and 40% of the general population naturally carry Staph on their skin, a whopping 90% of eczema sufferers have this germ inhabiting their skin. Studies reveal that 30% of moderate eczema sufferers are actually allergic to a toxin produced by the Staph, while in severe or difficult to control eczema, up to 68% of sufferers will have an allergy to it. The Staph also seems to make established eczema more difficult to treat by increasing skin resistance to therapeutic steroid creams – they just don’t seem to work as well if there is a Staph infection present.
Studies show that systematically eradicating the Staph from the skin will make the eczema easier to control and ultimately clear. In an established infection, the eczema will spread rapidly appearing bright red, crusty, weepy and blistered. The Staph can also persist by being harboured in the nasal passages, under dirty finger nails and in moist skin creases. Fortunately most Staph will be eliminated by antibiotic skin creams such as Mupirocin (Naseptin) or Fusidic acid (Fucidin) as well as by antiseptic skin disinfectants such as povidine iodine (Betadine), hydrogen peroxide, potassium permanganate and chlorhexidine (Hibitane). The beneficial effect of using sodium hypochlorite (found in bleech) and silver impregnated garments has not been proven. In more extensive Staph infections presenting with Impetigo (skin honey crusts), Folliculitis (pimples and pustules) and Cellulitis (widespread skin surface infection), oral antibiotics such as Flucloxacillin, Erythromycin and Co-amoxyclav will effectively treat the skin infection (unless the superbug MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) is present).
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/120/Supplement_3/S122
