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Staphylococci of the normal human skin flora

Variety in biotypes and antibiograms without direct correlations

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Summary

352 strains of Staphylococci of the normal human skin flora were sampled from one volunteer by single scrabbing in a ca. 3 cm2 measuring area. They were biotyped by the scheme of Pelzer et al. (1973)—a modified Baird-Parker-Scheme (1963)— and the resistance to antibiotics was investigated by the method of Bauer et al. (1966).

All the nine biotypes of Staphylococci were found in variable quantities. It seems problematic to call one biotype as the main type. Morphologically identical colonies of Staphylococci from the indigenous flora of the human skin were not identical in their biotypes as previously described by Pelzer (1976).

Only the investigation of all Staphylococci colonies from the culture plate can evaluate all biotypes of Staphylococci of the normal human skin flora, and can give the right quantitative correlation. Staphylococci were found to be sensitive and resistant up to four antibiotics, and one biotype did not show one type of antibiogram.

Zusammenfassung

352 Staphylokokken-Stämme der normalen Hautflora, die bei einem Probanden bei einer einzigen Abimpfung in einem 3 cm2 großen Areal gefunden wurden, wurden nach Pelzer et al. (1973) biotypisiert, anschließend wurde ein Antibiogramm nach Bauer et al. (1966) erstellt.

Es fanden sich alle neun Biotypen von Staphylokokken in unterschiedlicher Zahl. Von einem Biotyp als dem „Haupttyp” zu sprechen erscheint problematisch. Morphologisch gleiche Kolonien von Staphylokokken der normalen menschlichen Hautflora waren keineswegs auch gleiche Biotypen wie von Pelzer (1976) beschrieben.

Nur eine Biotypisierung aller Staphylokokken-Reinkulturen von der Kulturplatte erfaßt alle auf der Haut vorkommenden Biotypen von Staphylokokken und auch quantitativ im richtigen Verhältnis untereinander. Es fanden sich sensible und bis zu vierfach resistente Staphylokokken. Innerhalb der einzelnen Biotypen war kein einheitliches Resistenzmuster festzustellen. Biotypen und Resistenzverhalten zeigten keine direkten wechselseitigen Beziehungen.

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  1. Dermatologische Klinik und Poliklinik der Universität Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Straße 2, D-8700, Würzburg, Federal Republic of Germany

    Albert A. Hartmann

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  1. Albert A. Hartmann
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Hartmann, A.A. Staphylococci of the normal human skin flora. Arch Dermatol Res 261, 295–302 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00455299

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