Early skin colonization by Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus reveals environment-dependent synergistic effects

Revealing unexpected early interactions between <i>S. epidermidis</i>, <i>S. aureus</i>, and the skin, our results could suggest that co-inoculation may trigger a synergetic disruption of the barrier function. Alternatively, it could imply that co-inoculation might reinforce the epidermal barrier via a <i>S. aureus</i>-mediated stimulation of the protective functions of <i>S. epidermidis</i>. Further studies are needed to confirm these effects and determine whether they are strain-specific or more broadly applicable.