Normal Flora of the Skin in Korean Peoples

Kim, Soung Hun; Won, Young Ho; Kim, Young Pio

Abstract

Skin floras were taken from forehead, sternal area, lower margin of axillae, and interscapular space of 50 healthy Koreans(M 30, F 20) between 18 year and 40 years old using Williamson and Kligman's method and modified Pilsburg and .Nichols method. After incubating these floras for 3-5 days aerobically and anaerobically, we identified them using various stains and biochemical tests. The most common flora was Corynebucterium acne(84%), followed by aerobic diphtheroids(14%), coagulase negative staphylococcus, Micrococcus in orders. Although transient floras including Staphylococcus aareas, Pseudomonas, Listeria monocytogenes, and other Gram negative bacilli were isolated, they were rare and did mainly from axilla. The most common resident site of Corynebacteirium acne was forehead (l. 67 x 10/cm), but in aerobic diphtheroids and Micrococcaceae was the lower margin of axilla(2.70x16/cm, 2.34x10/cm), in which aerobic floras were more than anaerobics. The incidence rate of lipophilic diphtheroid was 27%, however it was 35% in axilla. The aerobic diphtheroid capable of nitrate reduction was 26%, which was very common in forehead. Among Propionibacterium species, Propionibacterim(P) acne was isolated 100% from all sites, but P. grandulosum was only in 2-7% and P. avidum was not.