Zinc Gluconate on Erythromycin-Resistant Acne
Title: Effect of zinc gluconate on propionibacterium
acnes resistance to erythromycin in patients with inflammatory
acne: in vitro and in vivo study.
Authors: Dreno B., et al.
Publication: Eur J Dermatol. 2005 May-Jun;15(3):152-5.
The authors noted that antibiotics, especially erythromycin,
have had declining effectiveness in treating acne. This is due
to the increased resistance to the drugs by the acne-causing bacteria,
Propioniium bacteria acnes.
Since zinc salts can also work in reducing inflammation and killing
bacteria, the authors wanted to know whether there is a difference
in its effectiveness against the drug-resistant strain of P. acnes.
The authors found that zinc can reduce the resistance of P. acnes
to erythromycin in test tube environment, and can also reduce
acne lesions after 2 months in patients suffering from acne. (These
patients received 30 mg of zinc gluconate daily for 2 months).
