The microbe is small in volume, but large in quantity and species. The symbiotic microbe, which is far more than human cells, code millions times of genes than human being. Somatic cells and these symbiotic microbe distributing in human body skin, respiratory tract, oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract and other parts form a complex ecosystem whose dynamic balance is highly related to body health. With the successful implementation of Human Microbiome Project, more attentions have been paid to the next generation microbiome technologies. New tools and methods for ecological regulation of human microbiome are emerging. The way we improve the world of human microbiology will be more convenient. This paper will make a review on the modulation techniques of human microbiome.
Humans ; Microbiota ; Mouth ; microbiology ; Skin ; microbiology

OBJECTIVE: To study the characteristics of infections associated with peripheral venous indwelling needles and to explore the best indwelling position in patients with cardiovascular diseases from the perspective of bacteriology. METHODS: A total of 240 hospitalized patients from the Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University between November 2009 to July 2010 were randomly selected, and were divided into 3 groups according to the indwelling position and the indwelling time: a back of hand group (n=80), a forearm group (n=80) and a foot group (n=80). The above 3 groups were also divided into 4 subgroups according to the indwelling time (T1: 48 h ≤ t < 72 h; T2: 72 h ≤ t ≤ 96 h; T3: 96 h < t ≤ 120 h; and T4: 120 h < t ≤ 168 h) (20 patients in each subgroup). The bacteria of samples from puncture position of the skin were respectively cultured and identified after skin disinfection, needle pulling out and sample puncture from the indwelling needle catheters, respectively. RESULTS: 1) After the skin disinfection, there was no bacterium in the skin samples of puncture position. 2) When the needles were pulled out, there was bacterial growth in the skin samples of puncture position in 41 patients in the 3 groups, and the bacterium was not detected in samples of the 3 groups at T1 and T2 period. There was no significant difference in the positive rate of bacterial culture in the 3 groups at T3 and T4 period (P<0.05). 3) When the needles were pulled out. There was bacterial growth in the samples of indwelling needle catheters in 10 patients in the 3 groups; no bacterium was detected in the back of hand group and the forearm group at T1, T2, T3 and T4 period. In the foot group, there was no bacterium growth in the samples of indwelling needle catheters at T1 and T2 period, but there was bacterial growth in 4 patients at T3 period and in 6 patients at T4 period. There was significant difference in the positive rate of bacterial culture in the samples of indwelling needle catheters in the 3 groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION The best indwelling position for peripheral venous indwelling needles is the forearm in patients with cardiovascular diseases.
Bacteria ; isolation & purification ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; complications ; Catheters, Indwelling ; Equipment Contamination ; Foot ; microbiology ; Forearm ; microbiology ; Hand ; microbiology ; Humans ; Needles ; Skin ; microbiology ; Veins ; microbiology

DNA, Fungal ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Occupational Diseases ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Skin ; microbiology ; Tinea ; diagnosis ; microbiology

Morphologic features of Malassezia(M.) furfur in the horny layer from clinical lesions of tinea versicolor were examined by scanning electron microscopy and compared with the appearance of fungus in the horny layer from normal skin and in culture. In skin lesions of tinea versicolor, M. furfur showed a variety of growth and reproduction patterns. Although the main patterns were budding yeast forms, various patterns suggesting yeast-mycelial conversion were observed and mycelial hyphae were more prominent in the deeper horny layer than in the superficial layers. However, in the skin of normal persons and in culture, M. furfur existed only as yeast forms and no mycelial hyphae or yeast-mycelial conversion forms were seen. This suggests that the morphologic change of M. furfur, from a yeast form to a mycelial hypha one, may play a role in the induction of the clinical lesion of tinea versicolor.
Biopsy ; Comparative Study ; Human ; Malassezia/isolation and purification/*ultrastructure ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Skin Diseases, Infectious/microbiology/pathology ; Tinea Versicolor/*microbiology

Morphologic features of Malassezia(M.) furfur in the horny layer from clinical lesions of tinea versicolor were examined by scanning electron microscopy and compared with the appearance of fungus in the horny layer from normal skin and in culture. In skin lesions of tinea versicolor, M. furfur showed a variety of growth and reproduction patterns. Although the main patterns were budding yeast forms, various patterns suggesting yeast-mycelial conversion were observed and mycelial hyphae were more prominent in the deeper horny layer than in the superficial layers. However, in the skin of normal persons and in culture, M. furfur existed only as yeast forms and no mycelial hyphae or yeast-mycelial conversion forms were seen. This suggests that the morphologic change of M. furfur, from a yeast form to a mycelial hypha one, may play a role in the induction of the clinical lesion of tinea versicolor.
Biopsy ; Comparative Study ; Human ; Malassezia/isolation and purification/*ultrastructure ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Skin Diseases, Infectious/microbiology/pathology ; Tinea Versicolor/*microbiology

Female ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; Humans ; Leukemia ; complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Skin Diseases, Bacterial ; microbiology ; Soft Tissue Infections ; microbiology

BACKGROUND: Optimal blood culture performance is critical for successful diagnosis and treatment of sepsis. To understand the status of blood culture, we investigated several aspects of the procedure at 9 university hospitals. METHODS: The process of ordering blood culture sets and sampling volume for adults and children was investigated from January 2010 to April 2010, while the positive rate of detection and growth of skin contaminants were compared in 2009. Microbial growth in aerobic and anaerobic bottles was investigated prospectively. RESULTS: A majority of the hospitals used 2 sets of bottles for adults and 1 bottle for children. The average blood volume in each set was 7.7 mL for adults and 2.1 mL for children. The positive rate of microorganisms was 8.0%, and the isolation rate of the normal flora of the skin was 2.1%. Bacterial growth rates in aerobic and anaerobic bottles only were 31.8% and 24.5% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Ordering blood culture sets and sampling volumes did not comply with CLSI guidelines. However, the rate of positive cultures and skin contamination rates were acceptable. Anaerobic bottles are useful in enhancing the yield of microorganisms.
Adult ; Bacteremia/blood/*microbiology ; Bacteria, Aerobic/isolation & purification ; Bacteria, Anaerobic/isolation & purification ; Blood/microbiology ; Child ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Republic of Korea ; Skin/microbiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the homology of Staphylococcus aureus (SA) strains isolated from nose and skin lesions of impetigo children.

METHODSTotally 263 outpatients aged 3 months to 14 years who were seen by the Department of Dermatology of Beijing Children's Hospital between August 2005 and March 2006 were enrolled in this study. The isolations from nose and skin lesions of 58 impetigo children who were randomly selected from these 263 children with spa sequence were typed. The sequence results of SA were analyzed using special websites.

RESULTSThere were 106 impetigo patients in these 263 children. The isolation rate of SA was 78.3% in the nose of 106 impetigo patients and was 21.0% in that of the rest 157 patients (P < 0.01). The age of all nasal carriers was concentrated in 1-6 years. Among the 106 impetigo patients, 30 patients had their primary lesions on the face (including 28 cases of SA nose isolates) and 76 patients had their primary lesions on the other parts of body (including 56 cases of SA nose isolates) (P < 0.01). The spa typing showed that 26 of the 30 impetigo patients had the same type pairs of nose and skin.

CONCLUSIONSSA isolated from the skin lesions and nose of impetigo patients has remarkably homology. Nasal carriage of SA may be closely relevant with the occurrence of impetigo.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Impetigo ; microbiology ; Infant ; Male ; Nasal Cavity ; microbiology ; Sequence Homology ; Skin ; microbiology ; Staphylococcus aureus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo investigate the possible role of mycobacteria in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis.

METHODSWe used nested polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (nPCR-RFLP) and gene sequencing method to examine 31 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens (including 19 skin lesions and 12 lymph nodes ) obtained from patients with sarcoidosis, 14 normal skin specimens, and 3 cutaneous tuberculosis specimens.

RESULTSThe 65kD mycobacterial heat shock protein gene was found in 4 out of 19 (21.1%) skin specimens of sarcoidosis. The mycobacteria included M. tuberculosis (n = 1), M. chelonei (n = 2), and M. gordonae (n = 1). Mycobacterial DNA was negative in 12 lymph node specimens and 14 normal skin specimens. M. tuberculosis gene was detected in all 3 specimens of cutaneous tuberculosis.

CONCLUSIONMycobacteria may play a role in the pathogenesis of cutaneous sarcoidosis.

Adult ; Aged ; DNA, Bacterial ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; microbiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycobacterium ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Mycobacterium Infections ; microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Sarcoidosis ; microbiology ; Skin ; microbiology ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Acute Kidney Injury/microbiology ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Biopsy ; Humans ; Kidney/*microbiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae/drug effects/*isolation & purification ; Nephritis/diagnosis/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma/diagnosis/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Skin Diseases, Bacterial/diagnosis/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Steroids/therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Vasculitis/diagnosis/drug therapy/*microbiology