pH and water content of Pseudomonas aeruginosa- and Klebsiella pneumoniae-colonized perineal skin of men with spinal cord injuries

Abstract

Men with spinal cord injuries have a high incidence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization of the perineum. Studies were carried out to determine whether colonization with Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Klebsiella pneumoniae is associated with changes in the pH or surface moisture of the perineal skin. Increased skin moisture correlated with a higher pH (P < 0.01). In patients using the external urinary collection system, the pH was significantly higher on the perineum of patients colonized with P. aeruginosa or K. pneumoniae than on the perineum of patients not colonized with these bacteria. There was no correlation between moisture and colonization.