ABSTRACT
Various cutaneous factors control the survival of pathogenic microorganisms on human skin and the development of infection. The ability to eliminate or control exogenous bacterial life has been ascribed to both physical and chemical factors. Purely physical factors cause dehydration and desiccation of microorganisms. Chemical factors include antimicrobial substances derived from bacteria, keratinocytes, and pilosebaceous and eccrine gland secretions. Several of these factors operate selectively to eliminate different organisms from skin. Adherence factors present on bacterial cell walls and on the cell surface of epithelia recently have been implicated in bacterial colonization. There is a remarkable specificity involved in the adherence of various bacteria to different skin sites. Although these factors probably operate cooperatively, their relative importance or necessity is undetermined.
