Staphylococci in skin microbiocenosis of the breasts in nursing women

The levels of the bacterial contamination of the nipple, the areola and the surrounding skin, the occurrence and species composition of staphylococci in 120 nursing women on days 4-5 after parturition have been studied. S. aureus contaminate the surface of the nipple and the areola in 75% of the examined women, and in 57.5% of these women the massive contamination of the above-mentioned areas (greater than or equal to 10(3) colony-forming units per sq. cm) is observed. In 80% of puerperae the occurrence of S. epidermidis on the nipple, the areola and the surrounding skin has proved to be practically the same. The population of S. aureus colonizing the mammary glands consists mainly of hospital strains; of these, 75.97% belong to phage type 75.     

Staphylococci in the skin microbiocenosis of the breasts in pregnant women

The microflora of the mammary glands in the area of the nipple, the areola and the adjacent skin was studied by the methods of washings and impression. 120 nonpregnant women and 164 pregnant women were examined. The pregnant women showed a higher level of the contamination of the above-mentioned sites. The highest density of bacterial population was detected in the area of the nipple and the lowest density, on the skin surrounding the areola. Coagulase-negative staphylococci proved to be the most numerous organisms among all bacterial population found on the skin of the mammary glands of pregnant women. Of these staphylococci, S. epidermidis was most frequently isolated, its isolation rate being higher in the pregnant women than in the nonpregnant ones.     

Staphylococci in the microbiocenosis of the skin of the hands]

The skin autoflora on the pad of a forefinger and the back and palm of a hand was studied in 40 healthy males aged 18-60 years by the modified washing and scraping method of P. Williamson and A. Kligman. 638 cultures of aerobic microorganisms, including coccal (55.3%) and bacilliform (44.7%) microbes, were isolated. In 6 persons (15%) coagulase-positive staphylococci were detected. Out of 10 coagulase negative species of this genus, S. epidermidis, S. saprophyticus and S. warneri occurred most frequently on the skin of hands. The highest density of bacterial populations (10.970 +/- +/- 1.845 cells/sq. cm) was registered on the back of hands, the surface of palms was found to have somewhat lower density (8.679 +/- 1.282 cells/sq. sm) and the skin of forefingers, the lowest density of bacterial populations (6.878 +/- +/- 1.137 cells/sq. sm). 17.5% of examined persons were found to be carriers with S. aureus isolated from their nasal mucosa. S. aureus isolated from the skin surface and the nasal cavity of different persons belonged to different phage variants, but S. aureus isolated from the nasal cavity and the skin of the same person belonged to one phage variant.     

Micrococci in the skin microbiocenosis of the breasts. Ecologic characteristics of the colony

The ecological characteristics of the micrococcal community on the skin of the mammary glands of nulligravidae, pregnant and puerperant women have been studied. The species composition of the community, the population size and occurrence of each species, its participation in the dominant structure of the community have been determined. The comparative evaluation of its types has been made. A decrease in the dominating role of M. luteus in pregnant and puerperant women has been established. The tendency towards the normalization of the structure of the community in the postnatal period has been established.     

The spatial structure and hierarchy of the ecological groups in the skin microbiocenosis of the breasts

In 120 nulligravidae, 175 pregnant women and 280 puerperants the skin microbiocenosis of mammary glands was studied. Its horizontal structure, the types of the distribution of different ecological groups over the surface of the biotope and their hierarchy, as well as the diversity of species at different anatomical areas, were described. The study showed that the representatives of resident flora were characterized by group distribution, while for transitory flora variations from occasional distribution in nulligravidae to group distribution in nursing mothers were noted. The most pronounced changes in hierarchy were observed in puerperants. In nursing mothers a significant increase in the diversity of species at different anatomical areas were also disclosed.     

Antibiotic sensitivity of Staphylococci populating the breast skin of nursing women

Sensitivity to penicillins, tetracycline, erythromycin and lincomycin was tested in 1513 staphylococcal strains isolated from the skin of various anatomic areas of the breast of nursing mothers. It was shown that 82.9, 78.4 and 33.9 per cent of the isolated cultures were highly sensitive to lincomycin, erythromycin and methicillin respectively. Sensitivity to tetracycline and benzylpenicillin was detected in 33.1 and 19.8 per cent of the cultures respectively. The study of the resistance spectra of 1343 strains resistant to certain antibiotics revealed that 498 cultures (37.1 per cent) were polyresistant. None of the tested antibiotics could be used for selective decontamination of the breast skin with respect to S. aureus in prophylaxis of lactic mastitis.     

Antibiotic sensitivity of staphylococci isolated from the surface of the skin of the breasts in pregnant women

Nine hundred and fourty coagulase-positive and coagulase-negative strains of staphylococci isolated from the skin surface of the mammary glands of 94 pregnant women were tested by the disc agar diffusion method for their sensitivity to five antibiotics. The highest number of the isolates were sensitive to erythromycin and lincomycin (87.7 and 89.7 per cent, respectively). The highest number of moderately resistant strains were detected with respect to methicillin. 19 out of 42 cultures of Staph. aureus were resistant to benzylpenicillin and 24 cultures were resistant to tetracycline. Among staphylococci 130 strains or 13.8 per cent were polyresistant.     

Role of neutrophils in the regulation of the reproductive tract microbiocenosis in women

The influence of neutrophils and their secretory products on the microflora of the vaginal contents in healthy women and in women having dysbiotic processes in the vagina was studied. The secretory products of neutrophils were found to produce a bactericidal effect on the representatives of the opportunistic bacteria, this effect being less pronounced with respect to lactic-acid bacteria. The established effect of neutrophils on bacteria is regarded as one of the mechanisms of microbiocenosis formation, ensuring colonization resistance.     

Vaginal microbiocenosis in trichomoniasis

Taxonomic complex of vaginal microflora and its persistence characteristics in trichomoniasis and microecological disturbances were studied. Diminution of biotope colonization resistance was characterized by decreased autochthonous microorganisms' number and increased opportunistic microflora with expressed persistence. That could be of a great pathogenetic importance in the occurrence of reproductive tract inflammatory diseases of the bacterial etiology in addition of trichomoniasis in females.     

Population characteristics and biological properties of micrococci colonizing the skin of the breasts

As shown in this investigation, the population characteristics of micrococci inhabiting the skin of the mammary glands make it possible to regard these microorganisms as the permanent members of microbiocenosis. Their proportion among all isolated strains was, respectively, 27.2% and 27.7% for nulliparous and pregnant women and their occurrence, 96.7% and 92.1%. The largest population of micrococci was registered at the nipple area of both left (934-1,956 colony-forming units per sq. cm) and right (1,092-2,134 colony-forming units per sq. cm) breasts. A decrease in the number of micrococci was observed at the above-mentioned areas during pregnancy, which was accompanied by changes in the specific and antagonistic profiles of the association. This occurred supposedly under the necessity of preserving its dynamic stability.     

Large breasts and narrow waists indicate high reproductive potential in women

Physical characteristics, such as breast size and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), function as important features used by human males to assess female attractiveness. Males supposedly pay attention to these features because they serve as cues to fecundity and health. Here, we document that women with higher breast-to-underbreast ratio (large breasts) and women with relatively low WHR (narrow waists) have higher fecundity as assessed by precise measurements of daily levels of 17-beta-oestradiol (E2) and progesterone. Furthermore, women who are characterized by both narrow waists and large breasts have 26% higher mean E2 and 37% higher mean mid-cycle E2 levels than women from three groups with other combinations of body-shape variables, i.e. low WHR with small breasts and high WHR with either large or small breasts. Such gains in hormone levels among the preferred mates may lead to a substantial rise in the probability of conception, thus providing a significant fitness benefit.     

Intestinal microbiocenosis in children with intestinal enzymopathy

141 children with different kinds of intestinal enzymopathy were examined; of these, 33 had celiac disease, 39--the syndrome of celiac disease, 12--congenital lactase deficiency and 57--the syndrome of disaccharidase insufficiency. In these patients a significant decrease in the average characteristics of the main protective flora and the growth of hemolytic and lactose-negative enterobacteria were established. In all groups of patients increased amounts of Proteus were detected, which was indicative of profound dysbiosis. The content of bifidobacteria was found to be decreased in 89.5-97% of the patients and the content of lactic acid bacteria, in 15.8-33.3%. The decreased content of Escherichia coli with normal enzymatic activity (less than 10(7) colony-forming units) was noted in one-third of the patients with the syndrome of celiac disease and congenital lactase deficiency, in about a half of the patients with the syndrome of disaccharidase insufficiency and least of all in patients with celiac disease (9.1%). The association of opportunistic microbes was detected in 15.6% of the patients, more often in those with celiac disease, the syndrome of celiac disease and congenital lactase deficiency. The severity of disturbances in intestinal eubiosis was found to depend on the gravity of the patients' state.     

Sensitivity to antibiotics and the disinfectant chloramine of Staphylococci isolated from healthy and sick persons

Five hundred and twenty seven strains of Staphylococcus aureus with massive contamination of at least 10(3) when estimated quantitatively were tested for their sensitivity to antibiotics and chloramine B. The staphylococcal strains were isolated from patients, air and stock of rooms in medical institutions, from medical personnel and healthy persons having no long-term contacts with hospital media i. e. from pregnant women and workers of confectionery plants. Among the isolates there were strains simultaneously sensitive to antibiotics and chloramine B (16.6 per cent), sensitive to antibiotics but resistant to chloramine B (5.5 per cent), resistant to antibiotics but sensitive to chloramine B (63.1 per cent) and resistant to antibiotics and chloramine B (15.3 per cent). Staphylococci resistant simultaneously to antibiotics and chloramine B were isolated from the persons of all the groups and from the air and stock of the rooms in the medical institutions. This showed the necessity of controlling sensitivity or staphylococci circulating in hospital media not only to antibiotics but also to disinfectants for providing more efficient prophylaxis of intrahospital infections.     

Skin microbiocenosis in patient with chronic dermatoses

The skin microflora of patients with chronic dermatoses (atopic dermatitis and psoriasis) have been studied by the original "Bactotests" method. The data thus obtained indicate that the clinical picture of the disease is related to the severity of skin dysbacteriosis. The electron-microscopic study of 2 staphylococcal strains isolated from patients has revealed the presence of the immunoglobulin cover (capsule-like outer sheath consisting of immunoglobulins and other humoral protective factors) on the cell wall of these bacteria.