Effects of Treatments on Atopic Dermatitis

Background:

- Atopic dermatitis, or eczema, is a chronic skin disorder. Patients sometimes have infections with S. aureus bacteria. Researchers want to study how eczema treatments affect the number and the type of bacteria on the skin.

Objectives:

- To study the effect of eczema treatments on skin bacteria.

Eligibility:

* Individuals between 2 and 25 years of age who have moderate to severe atopic dermatitis.
* Healthy volunteers between 18 and 40 years of age with no history of eczema.

Design:

* Participants will be screened with a physical exam and medical history. Research samples will be collected. Skin biopsies may also be performed.
* All participants will be assigned to one of several study groups.
* This study will last for up to 1 year. Healthy volunteers must not have taken antibiotics in the year before the start of the study.
* All participants will have regular study visits during their 1-year participation. More research samples will be collected at these visits.

BACKGROUND:

* The use of antibiotics has revolutionized medicine, yet the impact of antimicrobials on the human microbiome is incompletely understood.
* Antimicrobial treatments, including topical and systemic antibiotics, are highly effective and are frequently used to manage disease flares of AD. Concomitant use of dilute bleach baths reduces the clinical severity of AD in patients with clinical signs of bacterial skin infections.
* The longitudinal impact of various antimicrobials on the human microbiome, particularly in skin, has not been systematically investigated.

OBJECTIVES:

Primary:

-To characterize microbiome alterations in healthy adult volunteers (Cohorts 1 and 2) and patients with AD (Cohort 3) after antimicrobial treatments.

ELIGIBILITY:

* All subjects must be co-enrolled in NIH protocol 08-HG-0059
* (Cohorts 1 and 2) Healthy volunteers aged 18 to 50 years with no history of AD
* (Cohort 1 and 2) No prior use of systemic antibiotics in preceding 12 months
* (Cohort 3) Subjects 2-50 years with atopic dermatitis with symptoms of active bacterial infection
* (Cohort 3) Objective SCORAD (SCORing Atopic Dermatitis) score of greater than or equal to 15 indicating moderate-to-severe disease

DESIGN:

* A prospective, interventional, longitudinal study examining changes in microbiome resulting from randomized, placebo-controlled, investigator-blinded antimicrobial treatments.
* Subjects in Cohort 1 will be randomized to take one of 4 open label antibiotic regimens.
* Subjects from Cohort 2 will be will be randomized to one of four possible blinded treatment combinations of study baths and antibiotics.
* Subjects in Cohort 3 will be randomized to a cephalexin regimen with or without study baths.
* All subjects will undergo longitudinal microbiome sampling.
* AD patients will undergo clinical assessment to determine responses of skin infections to treatment.

Eligibility Criteria:
* INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Cohorts 1 and 2: Healthy Volunteers

Males and females aged 18-50 years.

* Subjects must participate fully and be willing to comply with the procedures of the protocol
* Subjects must be co-enrolled in NIH protocol 08-HG-0059
* Ability of subject to understand and provide written informed consent.
* Access to bathing facilities
* Ability to swallow capsules or tablets

Cohort 3: Atopic Dermatitis Patients

* Subjects must be aged 2-50 years.
* Subjects must be co-enrolled in NIH protocol 08-HG-0059
* Subjects must have a diagnosis of atopic dermatitis on the basis of the criteria defined by UK Working Party s Diagnostic Criteria for Atopic Dermatitis
* Subjects must have a primary care provider
* Subjects must have an Objective SCORAD (SCORing Atopic Dermatitis) of greater than or equal to 15 indicating AD severity of moderate to severe
* Prior to initiation of randomized treatment, subjects must have signs of bacterial skin infections (skin weeping, crusting, and/or pustules)
* Access to bathing facilities
* All subjects and/or their Legally Authorized Representative (LAR) must have the ability and agree to participate fully and comply with

the procedures of the protocol and provide informed consent. Pediatric patients will be included in age appropriate discussions and

age appropriate assent will be obtained in accordance with NIH guidelines.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Cohorts 1 and 2: Healthy Volunteers

* Does not meet inclusion criteria
* Any female with symptoms and/or serum hormone levels consistent with perimenopause
* Use of systemic antibiotics in 12 months preceding baseline sampling
* Use of swimming pools, hot tubs, or whirlpools in 7 days preceding baseline sampling
* Use of topical or oral complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) agents within 4 weeks of initiation of treatment
* Known allergic reaction to sulfa, beta-lactam, or tetracycline class drugs; or lidocaine or epinephrine
* Family history of toxic epidermal necrolysis
* Known allergy or sensitivity to sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl)
* History of AD and asthma
* Inability to comply with the requirements of the protocol
* Pregnant or lactating
* Subjects with a primary or acquired immunodeficiency, including HIV seropositiviy
* Any chronic past or present medical illness, including chronic skin diseases like psoriasis
* Subjects receiving or planning to receive an IND agent, ultraviolet light therapy, monoclonal antibodies, or systemic immunosuppressants
* Subjects who provide direct healthcare or reside in healthcare facilities or in non-hospital settings such as clinics, assisted living facilities, homeless shelters, jails and prisons as well as subjects with frequent exposure to laboratory animals

Cohort 3: Atopic Dermatitis Patients

* Does not meet inclusion criteria
* Any female with symptoms and/or serum hormone levels consistent with perimenopause
* Known allergic reaction to beta-lactam class drugs, lidocaine, or epinephrine
* Family history of toxic epidermal necrolysis
* Known allergic reaction to sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl)
* Use of systemic antibiotics within 8 weeks, or topical antibiotics on intended sampling sites within 3 weeks, prior to baseline sampling
* Use of topical corticosteroids on all intended sampling sites within 7 days, prior to baseline sampling
* Use of topical or oral CAM agents within 4 weeks of initiation of treatment
* Subjects with known primary or acquired immunodeficiency
* Subjects with unstable or uncontrolled medical conditions that could require hospitalization during the initial month of the study or who have been hospitalized for treatment of these conditions in the one month prior to baseline sampling
* Subjects receiving or planning to receive an IND agent, ultraviolet light therapy, monoclonal antibodies, or systemic immunosuppressants within 7 days or 5 half-lives (whichever is the longer time period) of initiating treatment on this protocol
* Subjects who are currently receiving or have received chemotherapy or radiation for treatment of malignancies within the previous 6 months
* Pregnancy or lactating
* Pregnant or lactating females in all cohorts are excluded from participating due to the potential effects of the above listed antimicrobials on the developing human fetus or nursing infant; listed in Sections 11.1 through 11.5. Females of childbearing potential must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while she is participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately. Lactating mothers will discontinue breastfeeding prior to study enrollment.
* Smokers and subjects who use smokeless tobacco products are excluded in all cohorts due to tobacco s unknown impact on human oral mucosa and microflora.