Shared signatures and divergence in skin microbiomes of children with atopic dermatitis and their caregivers.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic skin condition in children (15-20%) that can significantly impair their quality of life. As a result of its relapsing nature and enrichment of Staphylococcus aureus during flares, clinical management can include eradicating S aureus from the skin of children; however, this does not extend to their healthy caregivers, who are potential reservoirs.

Objective: Our aim was to understand skin microbiome sharing and microbial features in children with AD and their healthy adult caregivers.