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Review
. 2019 Feb;36(1):11-17.
doi: 10.5114/ada.2019.82821. Epub 2019 Feb 22.

Staphylococcus aureus: an underestimated factor in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis?

Leszek Blicharz  1 , Lidia Rudnicka  1 , Zbigniew Samochocki  1
Affiliations
Review

Staphylococcus aureus: an underestimated factor in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis?

Leszek Blicharz et al. Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2019 Feb.

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis is a common, recurrent pruritic dermatosis with a complex pathogenesis. It has been associated with disordered patterns of immunological response and impaired epithelial barrier integrity. These features predispose the patients to robust colonization of skin lesions by Staphylococcus aureus. Virulence factors of S. aureus (e.g. superantigens, α- and δ-toxin, protein A) have been shown to exacerbate and perpetuate the course of atopic dermatitis. Novel therapeutic options with potential for restoring natural microbiome composition are being elaborated and may enter clinical practice in the future.

Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus; atopic dermatitis; pathogenesis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Virulence factors of Staphylococcus aureus and their role in the pathogenesis of AD. Colonization by S. aureus is facilitated in patients with AD due to dysfunction of the epithelial barrier. Virulence factors of S. aureus contribute to the vicious cycle of AD (see the text for reference)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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