Resident and Transient Bacteria of the Skin

Although essential to a good understanding of human cutaneous infections, studies on long term carriage of skin bacteria are rare, perhaps because there are few adequate typing schemes with which to identify organisms accurately. A seven month qualitative study of two individuals showed that three groups of organisms – residents, “nomads” and transients – could be identified. Quantitative study of 12 individuals suggested that while the standard deviation of the mean count in a series of residents may reach 25% of the mean count, in transients it may be far higher. Statistical methods might therefore be employed in determining the status of cutaneous bacteria.