Identification of the Cutaneous Microbiota in Patients With Cutaneous Infection Admitted in the Department of Acute Infectious Diseases

Cellulite is characterized by inflammation and an alleged infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissues. Previous studies have shown a low yield of samples such as biopsy and needle aspiration of the order of 16%. The most common pathogens are Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes.

Conventional cultivation has limitations such as the lack of detection of fastidious microorganisms, or the use of antibiotics. Molecular diagnostic methods, such as detection of 16S ribosomal DNA followed by amplification and pyrosequencing, have been used to overcome the limitations of microbial culture.

In a recent study, the authors investigated the causes of acute cellulitis without performing drainage but skin biopsies from the infected site and another non-infected site by quantitative PCR, pyrosequencing, and conventional culture. PCR identified methicillin-resistant S. aureus methicillin in approximately 30% -40% of cases with similar frequency in infected and uninfected sites. In another study R. felis was found in not only bedsores, but also, swabs taken from healthy skin, as well as Streptococcus pneumoniae, S. aureus and Streptococcus group A. Being engaged in the exploration of the human microbiota especially by culture we propose to extend the knowledge of this skin microbiota in patients hospitalized in Infectious Disease services.