Jw. Fluhr et al., In-vitro and in-vivo efficacy of zinc acetate against propionibacteria alone and in combination with erythromycin, ZBL BAKT, 289(4), 1999, pp. 445-456
Citations number
28
Categorie Soggetti
Microbiology
Journal title
ZENTRALBLATT FUR BAKTERIOLOGIE-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY VIROLOGY PARASITOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Some studies have been published about the in vitro activity of zinc acetat
e (ZA), erythromycin (E) and their combination (ZA/E) against Propionibacte
rium spp., especially erythromycin resistant strains. The efficacy of topic
al ZA/E combination has been reported as well, but a comparison to ZA monot
herapy is missing. Therefore, the MIC values of ZA, E and the ZA/E combinat
ion were determined for 15 erythromycin-resistant and 12 erythromycin-sensi
tive Propionibacterium strains using the agar dilution method and the check
erboard technique. Furthermore, the antimicrobial efficacy of ZA (1,2%) vs,
the ZA/E (1,2%/4%) combination in an alcoholic solution was tested in a 7-
day treatment administered to 32 acne patients. The MIC 100 for ZA was 1024
pg ZA/ml for both, erythromycin resistant and erythromycin sensitive Propi
onibacterium strains. The ZA, as well as the ZA/E solution showed efficacy
reducing both the Propionibacterium spp., and the Micrococcaceae in the seb
aceous gland infundibula of acne patients. There was no significant differe
nce between the two treatments. As the MIC 100 of ZA/E was equal to the MIC
100 of ZA, the decrease of the erythromycin MIC of the ZA/E combination in
erythromycin-resistant strains may be partly attributed to the addition of
ZA to E. The in vivo antibacterial efficacy on 32 acne patients supports t
he hypothesis that the antibacterial effect of ZA/E in short-term treatment
can be mostly attributed to ZA.