Antibiotic sensitivity of propionibacterium acnes isolated from patients with acne vulgaris in Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Author:
Tang JJ
;
Heng A
;
Chan LC
;
Tang MM
;
Roshidah B
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Acne vulgaris, Antibiotic sensitivity, Antibiotic resistance, Propionibacterium acnes, Clindamycin, Erythromycin, Doxycycline, Tetracycline, Minocycline
- From:Malaysian Journal of Dermatology
2012;28(-):1-8
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background Antibiotic therapy directed against Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) has been a
mainstay of treatment in acne vulgaris for more than 40 years. Prolonged antibiotic usage has been
associated with emergence of antibiotic-resistant P. acnes and is linked to treatment failure. Little
work has been done in Malaysia on drug resistance in P. acnes and there is no surveillance data on
this aspect to guide the clinical decision.
Objective This study aims to evaluate antibiotic sensitivity of P. acnes isolated from patients with
acne vulgaris in Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Malaysia.
Methods This is a non interventional, single centered, cross-sectional hospital-based survey of
antibiotic sensitivity of P. acnes isolated from patients with acne vulgaris in Kuala Lumpur Hospital
from January 2010 to June 2010.
Results A total of 100 patients were recruited in our study. P. acnes was isolated in 53% of patients
and 11% had gram negative organism. Antibiotic resistant P. acnes was found in 15.1% of positive
isolates. Clindamycin resistance was the highest (15.1%) followed by erythromycin (7.5%),
doxycycline (5.7%), tetracycline (1.9%) and minocycline (0%). Isolates of antibiotic resistant
P. acnes was significantly higher in patients treated with antibiotics within the last 6 months (29%)
as compared with non antibiotic treated patients (0%) (p<0.05).The mean duration of prior antibiotic
treatment was significantly longer in the group of antibiotic resistant P. acnes as compared with
antibiotic sensitive P. acnes (17.13 weeks vs 5.74 weeks, p<0.05).
Conclusion Antibiotic resistant P. acnes is present locally with clindamycin and erythromycin
accounting for the highest resistance. Longer duration of antibiotic treatment predisposes to
antibiotic resistant P. acnes and may also induce emergence of gram negative organisms. Strategies
to reduce antibiotic resistance should be emphasized when prescribing antibiotic for acne vulgaris
in order to achieve optimal therapeutic results while reducing the potential for antibiotic resistance.
