Aerobic and Anaerobic Bacteriology of Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Study of 22 Cases

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease of unclear etiology. The role of bacteria in the pathogenesis of disease remains controversial. <b><i>Materials and Methods:</i></b> Specimens were obtained from 22 HS patients by direct percutaneous needle aspiration. The collected material was cultured in aerobic and anaerobic conditions, and sensitivity tests were performed. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Of the 22 patients, 32% were culture negative and 68% were culture positive. A total of 16 isolates was obtained, 14 aerobic and 2 anaerobic. Aerobic bacteria were present in 86% of the specimens, whereas only anaerobic bacteria were isolated in 7%. The predominant aerobic species were <i>Proteus mirabilis</i>, <i>Staphylococcus haemolyticus</i> and <i>Staphylococcus lugdunensis</i>. The isolated anaerobic bacteria were <i>Dermacoccus nishinomiyaensis</i> and <i>Propionibacterium</i><i>granulosum</i>. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> A variety of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria was isolated from the HS lesions of our patients. In contrast to previous studies, fewer patients were found to be culture positive, and <i>Staphylococcus aureus </i>was isolated in only 1 of them. More studies are necessary to elucidate the controversial role of bacteria in the pathogenesis of HS.