Use of a phage set for the ecological typing of coagulase-negative staphylococci.

The staphylococcal flora of skin and acne lesions of 98 patients was analysed by the use of phage typing and biotyping methods. It appeared that in some individuals a relatively stable staphylococcal flora was present while others harboured 7 or more different strains. The same S. epidermidis strains were found on different skin sites and in acne lesions of a given individual. Examples of different carriage patterns were given.