Increased S. aureus colonization in patients with AD with FLG mutations, and increased prevalence of CC1 in patients with FLG mutations, suggest that host-microbe interactions and clonal differences in S. aureus are important for colonization of AD skin.

ISAAC questionnaire-derived symptom prevalences are sufficiently precise for comparisons between populations. Where diagnostic precision at the individual level is important, questionnaires should be validated and potentially modified in those populations beforehand, or a standardized skin examination protocol should be used.

We suggest that the cefoxitin method should replace that currently recommended by the SRGA for the detection of MRSA, and that it would fit well into BSAC methodology.

AD impacts negatively on the QoL, proportional to the severity of the disease. Furthermore, female sex and facial eczema are associated with low QoL. Positive FLG null mutation status is not associated with QoL or disease severity.