Staphylococcus epidermidis: a love–hate relationship
You might not know them by name, but you carry them with you everywhere: Staphylococcus epidermidis. This skin bacterium is part of nearly everyone’s microbiome. But the relationship with this microbe isn’t always smooth.
Soft skin, thanks to microbes
Your skin is full of microbes and that’s a good thing. We need them. Skin microbes help keep out intruders, lowering the risk of infection. They also help your skin stay hydrated and smooth.
S. epidermidis is one of those helpers. This bacterium produces ceramides compounds you might recognise from your skincare routine. Many beauty products advertise ceramides for their moisturising effects. S. epidermidis produces them naturally. No beauty serum required.
Highly contagious, but mostly harmless
Because S. epidermidis lives on most people’s skin, it spreads easily. Touching others, sharing objects or even sneezing can pass it on.
Luckily, there’s no need to worry, the bacterium is mostly harmless. Only when it enters the bloodstream (for example, via a wound or medical device) can it cause a dangerous infection.
When trouble starts: S. epidermidis infection
Sometimes S. epidermidis builds a sticky layer known as a biofilm. This biofilm can attach itself firmly to medical equipment, such as catheters or implants. In hospitals, this can lead to serious infections. And it’s hard to treat. The biofilm shields the bacteria from both antibiotics and the body’s immune system. Worse still, some strains of S. epidermidis are antibiotic resistant, making them even more difficult to fight.
Friend or foe?
Even outside hospitals, this bacterium can cause infections, especially when it enters a wound in people with a weakened immune system. But here's the twist: S. epidermidis can also help heal wounds.
It does this by keeping harmful bacteria out, and even stimulates the body's own cells to close the wound faster. It's a fine balance between defence and danger.
Just one of many skin microbes
S. epidermidis is far from alone. More than 1,000 types of bacteria can live on your skin. Curious which microbes live on or in your body, and what they do?
Try the Bodyscan at ARTIS-Micropia and take a journey through your own microbiome.