Effects of Obesity on Infections with Emphasis on Skin Infections and Wound Healing

Abstract

Obesity represents a serious health problem as it is rapidly increasing worldwide. Obesity is associated with reduced health span and life span, decreased responses to infections and vaccination and increased frequency of inflammatory conditions. In this review, we summarize published data showing that obesity increases the risk of different types of infections, with a special focus on skin infections. Obesity also induces skin changes and conditions (inflammation-based and hypertrophic) which are often associated with fungi or bacteria overgrowth. The association of obesity with the skin microbiome has been established in both mice and humans. Balance of commensal microbes controls skin homeostasis and the host immune response, while changes in normal physiologic skin microbiome composition and pathologic bacteria contribute to skin diseases. We also summarize the major steps in wound healing and how obesity affects each of them. The role that immune cells have in this process is also described. Although the studies summarized in this review clearly demonstrate the deleterious effects of obesity on wound healing, additional studies are needed to better characterize the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved and identify specific targets of intervention.