Is antibiotics prescription needed in infants with topical corticosteroids treatment for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis?

Dermatol Ther. 2020 Nov;33(6):e14215. doi: 10.1111/dth.14215. Epub 2020 Sep 11.

Abstract

The cutaneous microbiota responses to skin health as well as atopic dermatitis. To reveal the microbiota effect in atopic dermatitis children under therapy with topical corticosteroids and antibiotics. 59 atopic dermatitis patients were randomized to two treatment groups (by corticosteroids or combination therapy) in Beijing Children's Hospital. The lesion microbial samples were collected for 16S rDNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. After treatment, 57 patients recovered significantly. Though topical antibiotics application blocked the restoration of commensal Streptococcus, no remarkable differences of cutaneous microbiota were identified between the two groups along the treatment. In subject 1081, who received the combination therapy, the Streptococcus and Pseudomonas as well as Chryseobacterium increased dramatically. On the contrary, the Staphylococcus aureus decreased sharply in subject 1107 with topical corticosteroids treatment Our preliminary study suggested the necessity to consider cutaneous microbiota profile when prescribing antibiotics.

Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus; Streptococcus; antibiotics; atopic dermatitis; cutaneous microbiota.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Topical
  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / adverse effects
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / adverse effects
  • Child
  • Dermatitis, Atopic* / diagnosis
  • Dermatitis, Atopic* / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Prescriptions

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents