Acta dermatovenerologica Alpina, Pannonica, et Adriatica 35 (2), 79-82
Acidity difference and skin Staphylococcus spp. colonization in preterm and term newborns
Osdatilla Esa Putri1 ✉, Suci Widhiati1 , Prasetyadi Mawardi1 , Arie Kusumawardani1 , Nurrachmat Mulianto1 , Dwi Hidayah2 , Pristiawan Navy Endraputra3
1 Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Aesthetics, Faculty of Medicine, Sebelas Maret University / Dr. Moewardi General Hospital, Surakarta, Indonesia. 2 Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Sebelas Maret University / Dr. Moewardi General Hospital, Surakarta, Indonesia. 3 Department of Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Sebelas Maret University / Dr. Moewardi General Hospital, Surakarta, Indonesia.
Abstract
Introduction: Term and preterm newborns have differences in skin structure. Preterm newborns have skin structures that are more susceptible to various disorders. These differences are believed to impact skin pH regulation and bacterial colonization, particularly Staphylococcus spp. This study investigates the acidity difference and skin Staphylococcus spp. colonization in preterm and term newborns.
Methods: This is a descriptive observational study with a cross-sectional design. The study compared skin pH and Staphylococcus spp. colonization between term (37–41 weeks) and preterm (28–36 weeks) newborns. Skin pH was measured using a skin pH meter, and Staphylococcus spp. colonization was assessed through bacterial identification and colony-forming unit (CFU) testing. Assessments were conducted within the first 24 hours of life.
Results: There were 29 participants in this study: 16 preterm newborns and 13 term newborns. The preterm group was dominated by subjects with alkaline skin pH (80%), and the term group was dominated by subjects with acidic skin pH (71%). Positive Staphylococcus spp. colonization was more prevalent in the preterm group (62%) than in the term group (38%).
Conclusions: Skin pH differed between preterm and term newborns, with relatively higher skin pH in the preterm group. Staphylococcus spp. was also more prevalent in the preterm group.
Keywords: newborn, term, preterm, skin pH, Staphylococcus spp.