Cutibacterium acnes Antibiotics sensitivity: Can basic characteristics of acne vulgaris patients predict it?

Abstract

Background: Acne is a chronic inflammatory disorder affecting the pilosebaceous apparatus due to androgen-induced sebum formation, modified keratinization, inflammation, and bacterial colonization of hair follicles on the face, neck, chest, and back by cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes). The resistant C. acnes strains cause deep involvement of acne, failure in treatment or rapid relapse.Methods: This study was conducted on 48 Samples collected from 48 patients with acne vulgaris lesions (papules and pustules). C. acnes isolation, biofilm detection and antibiotic susceptibility tests (for both drugs: azithromycin and doxycycline) were applied on all samples then were compared to age, sex, severity of lesions, and hormonal disturbance.Results: Samples of all patients showed higher susceptibility to doxycycline than azithromycin. Statistically significant relationship was detected between Doxycycline sensitivity and age with more susceptibility below the age of 25. Another statistically significant correlation between Azithromycin and two parameters; hormonal changes and severity with more sensitivity in patients with hormonal disturbance and moderate to severe cases.Conclusion: C. acnes is more susceptible to doxycycline than azithromycin. regarding doxycycline susceptibility, it is inversely related to age. Regarding azithromycin susceptibility, it is higher in patients with hormonal disturbance and also with severe disease