Antibacterial efficacy of benzoyl peroxide in phospholipid liposomes. A vehicle-controlled, comparative study in patients with papulopustular acne.
BACKGROUND
Literature reports indicate that phospholipid liposomes facilitate the accumulation of active agents in the infundibulum.


OBJECTIVE
The study hypothesis of an improved antibacterial efficacy of benzoyl peroxide (BPO) in phospholipid liposomes was tested in comparison with a commercial and a pharmacopoeial BPO preparation.


METHODS
The infundibular bacterial samples were obtained with the Permabond technique from 20 acne patients who had been treated with the test substances (vehicle-controlled) for 2 weeks twice per day in a single-blinded, comparative study on the upper back.


RESULTS
A significant antibacterial effect in the infundibula (Propionibacteria and Micrococcaceae, both: p < 0.001) for a BPO phospholipid liposome formulation could be demonstrated. In comparison to the other significantly efficacious BPO formulations which were also tested (commercial product and pharmacopoeial formulation), the BPO phospholipid liposome formulation showed a significantly greater antibacterial efficacy for Propionibacteria and Micrococcaceae (both: p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
A BPO formulation in phospholipid liposomes may represent an improvement of the conventional external BPO treatment of acne.
Fluhr
J W
JW
Department of Dermatology, Karlsruhe Municipal Hospital Complex, Karlsruhe, Germany. JFluhr@Compuserve.com
Barsom
O
O
Gehring
W
W
Gloor
M
M
D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D001585:Benzoyl Peroxide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007641:Keratolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008081:Liposomes; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008835:Micrococcaceae / Q000187:drug effects; D011424:Propionibacterium / Q000187:drug effects; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D004337:Drug Carriers; D007641:Keratolytic Agents; D008081:Liposomes; D001585:Benzoyl Peroxide