Pathogenesis of staphylococcal infections of the skin.

Staphylococcus aureus does not grow readily on normal skin, where an important factor inhibiting its growth is the resident flora. Hydration of the stratum corneum favors the growth of S. aureus. Before lesions of staphyloderma are produced, organisms multiply on the surface. Substances produced as the result of multiplication enter the skin and produce an irritant reaction characterized by necrobiosis, spongiosis followed by perivascular infiltration, exocytosis and intraepidermal vesicle formation. A technique was used whereby the skin surface was separated from growing S. aureus by a filter. Pustules were produced through the filter.