Staphylococcus aureus carriage in Tayside children
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Staphylcocccus aureus carriage in Tayside children
IRAS ID
179562
Contact name
Charlotte Proby
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Dundee
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 23 days
Research summary
Staphylococcus aureus is a bacteria that is carried on the skin of approximately 30% of the healthy adult population at any one time, with no consequence (also called colonisation). This bacteria can cause a wide range of diseases from mild skin infections to life threatening illnesses such as pneumonia. People carrying this bacteria are at an increased risk of developing such infections.
Colonisation occurs in up to 90% of people with the common inflammatory skin disease, atopic eczema. This condition is very important in childhood, with almost 1 in 4 children being affected. It is becoming increasingly clear that this bacteria contibutes to the severity of eczema in those affected.
This study is designed to assess how frequently healthy children, as opposed to adults, in our community are carrying the bacteria, and also what bacterial strain they are carrying. This is a unique population to study for many reasons. Firstly carriage studies in children are rarely done, but published evidence suggests they may carry the bacteria more frequently than adults do. Secondly they are less likely than an adult population to be on chronic medical therapy that may affect the bacterial colonisation of our skin. Finally, it will allow us to compare with bacterial samples already collected from children with eczema.
To undertake this research we need to collect samples of bacteria from the skin of healthy children. This will allow us to study the DNA of the bacteria, giving us insight into which genetic strains of the bacteria are being carried. Also, whether eczema is associated with carriage of different bacterial strains compared to healthy skin. Children in local schools and nurseries will be invited to participate. Samples will be obtained by rubbing a soft cotton bud on the surface of the skin to capture the bacteria.REC name
East of Scotland Research Ethics Service REC 1
REC reference
15/ES/0153
Date of REC Opinion
20 Oct 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion