Leading research indicates there are many more individual species of bacteria on the hands than scientists once thought. In a 2008 study conducted by N Fierer and associates, the hands of 51 individuals were studied. The total number of bacteria species found was 4,742. While there are more differences than originally thought, there are also some common bacteria too. Most of these bacteria are harmless, but they can cause disease if they enter the body through a break in the skin. Encouraging your child to wash his hands frequently will reduce the number of bacteria on his hands and decrease his chances of an infection.
Staphylococcus epidermis
Staphylococcus epidermidis is one of the most common bacterias found on the skin. On the skin surface, this particular germ is harmless. When it enters the body through a wound or medical incision, however, it can cause serious infection commonly known as a staph infection.
Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus aureus is also commonly found on the surface of the hands. Similar to Staphylococcus epidermidis, it also only produces a staph infection when it enters the body through a break in the skin surface. Once it is inside the body, staphylococcus aureus can cause scalded skin syndrome, impetigo, boils, and pimples at the base of the hair shaft, known as folliculitis. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, is a type of staph infection that is resistant to the antibiotics typically prescribed to treat staph infections. MRSA can pose a serious health threat, especially if your child already has a preexisting health conditions.
Coryneforms
Coryneforms are a large group of bacteria that fall into the genus category Corynebacterium and are commonly found on the hands. They only cause diseases under certain conditions. For example, one type of coryneform is associated with acne lesions. Even though the bacteria is on the hands of your child, it won't typically colonize until the skin changes associated with adolescence begin to occur.
Nail Flora
Bacteria trapped under the fingernails are similar to those on the surface of the hand. There are also fungi and bacilli under the nails. Aspergillius, Penicillium, Cladosporium and Mucor are the primary fungi found beneath the fingernails according to Samual Baron in Medical Microbiology's article Normal Flora of Skin.
References
- National Center for Biotechnology Information: Medical Microbiology; Samual Baron: 1996
- PubMed: The influence of sex, handedness, and washing on the divesity of hand surface bacteria.
- KidsHealth: Staph Infections
- PubMed: Detection of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis in Clinical Samples by 16S rRNA-Directed in Situ Hybridization
