Those Acne Pimples Given Cure Squeeze

Illawarra Mercury

Monday September 7, 1998

Acne is becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics, a study shows.

Dermatologist Dr Alan Cooper, from Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital, found in a review of medical reports worldwide that treatment failure is increasing, indicating widespread resistance by strains of Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes).

``The overall incidence of P. acnes resistance has increased significantly from 20 per cent in 1978 to 62 per cent in 1996," Dr Cooper said.

Minocycline is the only acne antibiotic with little resistance.

Dr Cooper said growing resistance highlighted the need for treatment guidelines to restrict antibiotic use.

© 1998 Illawarra Mercury

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