A recent study demonstrated that there are three unique strains of Propionibacterium acnes; two strains are more prevalent in people with acne; however, one of which appears not to be pathogenic to humans and is more prevalent in people with 'clear' skin. Additionally, the strain of P. acnes found in healthy skin kills invading bacteria, including the pathogenic P. acnes. Which of the following statements about the targeted removal of 'bad' P. acnes and addition of 'good' P. acnes is INCORRECT?
A) After "bad" P. acnes is removed, the applications of "good" P. acnes should be able to grow and kill invasive bacteria.
B) Once removed, the invading pathogenic P. acnes cannot regrow on the skin.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The statement B is incorrect because removing the "bad" P. acnes does not guarantee that it cannot regrow on the skin. The skin's microbiome is dynamic, and without maintaining a balance that favors the "good" P. acnes, the "bad" P. acnes could potentially recolonize the skin.

A Recent Study Demonstrated That There Are Three Unique Strains