Staphylococcus epidermidis: a possible role in the pustules of rosacea.

BACKGROUND: Rosacea is a common skin and ocular disease. Cutaneous rosacea is characterized by facial flushing, telangiectasia, papules, and pustules. It is generally regarded as inflammatory in nature. We believed that the role of bacteria as a contributory factor in pustular and ocular rosacea needed to be revisited.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to ascertain whether there is an increase in the bacteria isolated from the (1) pustules of rosacea; and (2) eyelid margins of persons with cutaneous pustular rosacea.

METHODS: Bacterial swabs were taken and cultured from an incised rosacea pustule, the ipsilateral cheek skin, and the eyelid margin of 15 patients with pustular rosacea. Swabs were also taken from the cheek skin and ipsilateral eyelid margin of 15 matched control subjects.

RESULTS: A pure growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis was isolated from a pustule of 9 of 15 patients with pustular rosacea, and no pure growth of S epidermidis was isolated from their ipsilateral cheek skin. This was a highly statistically significant increase (P = .0003). A pure growth of S epidermidis was isolated from the eyelid margins of 4 of 15 patients with pustular rosacea, and no pure growth was isolated from the eyelids of age- and sex-matched control subjects. This was a statistically significant increase (P = .05).

LIMITATIONS: This study focuses on the microbial basis of rosacea.

CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest S epidermidis may play a role in pustular and ocular rosacea.