The microbiota in prurigo nodularis lesions is altered compared to healthy skin. It is unclear whether this is a consequence or a cause of the disease.

Towfiqu Barbhuiya/AdobeStock

Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a chronic disease characterized by multiple, symmetrically distributed nodular lesions that occur primarily on the hands, feet, and trunk and are intensely pruritic. The quality of life of the victims is significantly reduced. PN is associated with many diseases such as anxiety, depression, but also with systemic diseases such as Hashimoto’s, diabetes types 1 and 2, non-Hodgkin’s and Hodgkin’s lymphomas and more. About 65 – 80% of sufferers develop atopic dermatitis (AD).

Previous studies have already established a link between PN and various infectious factors, but there are no conclusive data on the direct presence of microbes in the lesions. The present study aimed to assess the diversity and composition of the bacterial microbiota in PN lesions and to better understand the potential role of the microbiome in the pathogenesis of the disease. It was hypothesized that complex relationships between microbes may affect the sensation of itching and thus contribute to the development of PN.