Topic 20: Bacteria of the Skin

Normal microbiota

________ of the skin tend to be resistant to drying and to relatively high salt concentrations.

propionic acid

Produce ________ that maintains the pH of the skin between 3- 5.

gram positive

Most bacteria on the skin are ________ and salt- tolerant.

coagulase

Produces ________, enzyme that coagulates the fibrin in blood, is pathogenic.

perspiration and sebum are nutritive for certain microorganisms

normal microbiota of the skin

Why is the skin generally an inhospitable environment for most microorganisms?

dryness; sebum; salt

Dry layers of ___-containing cells that make up the epidermis are not easily colonized by most microbes.

keratin

What secreted by oil glands inhibits bacterial growth?

sebum

Salt in perspiration create a ___ environment.

hypertonic

What is nutritive for the normal microbiota of the skin?

perspiration and sebum

Most bacteria on the skin are found in ___ areas such as axilla and sides of nose.

moist

Where are transient microbiota located on the skin?

hands and arms in contact with the environment

What live in hair follicles on sebum from oil glands?

proprionibacterium

What produces propionic acid?

proprionibacterium

What is the function of propionic acid?

maintains the pH of the skin

What is the pH of skin?

3-5

Most bacteria on the skin are gram___ and ___.

positive and salt tolerant

What is a member of the normal microbiota of the skin and is also considered a pathogen?

staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus produces ___, an enzyme that coagulates the fibrin in blood.

coagulase

What makes staphylococcus aureus pathogenic?

production of coagulase

What is used to distinguish S. aureus from other species of staphylococcus?

presence of coagulase