Sensitivity of staphylococcus microflora of wrestlers’ skin to bacteriophages

The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics of bacteriocenosis of wrestlers’ skin and to determine the sensitivity of staphylococcal microflora to bacteriophages. Methods and organization of the research. The experiment involved 15 athletes aged 17-21 years engaged in national wrestling and belt wrestling. Qualifications ranged from 1st adult rank to the master of sports. We used the method of microbiological seeding on yolk-salt agar (JSA) to analyze the washes from the intact skin of the medial part of forearms of wrestlers before and immediately after training. We identified the grown colonies of microorganisms using MALDI Microflex Biotyper mass-spectrometer (Bruker, Germany). In addition to the total microbial abundance, the frequency of occurrence of hemolytic forms of bacteria on wrestlers’ skin was determined before and after training. We determined the sensitivity of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria to staphylococcal bacteriophage and polyvalent pyobacteriophage by the diameter of the bacteria lysis zone. Results and discussion. The research revealed the following facts. 1) S. aureus appears more often than other staphylococci on the skin of the medial part of wrestlers’ forearms both before and after training. 2) We detected high frequency of occurrence of hemolytic forms of Staphylococcus bacteria, which indicates the dysbiosis of wrestlers’ skin. 3) It is more efficient to use a staphylococcal bacteriophage than polyvalent pyobacteriophage for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases of wrestlers’ skin caused by S. aureus. Conclusion. Athletes of contact sports demonstrate an increased risk of skin infectious diseases, and they need effective means of protection and prevention.