Comparative efficacy of clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide for in vivo suppression of Propionibacterium acnes.
BACKGROUND
Benzoyl peroxide and clindamycin are the two most widely prescribed topical antimicrobials in the treatment of acne.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the antimicrobial efficacy, in vivo, of benzoyl peroxide and clindamycin against Propionibacterium acnes.


METHODS
Two groups of 10 subjects each, with comparable mean P. acnes baseline counts of log 5.75 to 5.85, underwent twice daily application of benzoyl peroxide or clindamycin for 14 days.


RESULTS
The results of quantitatively sampling P. acnes after 3, 7 and 14 days of treatment showed that Triaz 6% benzoyl peroxide special gel produced faster and significantly greater reductions in P. acnes than did the 1% clindamycin phosphate in Cleocin-T lotion (p < 0.01). These results were paralleled by the greater reductions produced by Triaz versus Cleocin (p < 0.05) in P. acnes fluorescence.


CONCLUSIONS
Benzoyl peroxide formulations suppress the follicular population of P. acnes more rapidly and to a greater degree than topical antibiotics such as clindamycin.
Gans
E H
EH
Hastings Senior Associates, Westport, CT, USA.
Kligman
A M
AM
D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001585:Benzoyl Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002981:Clindamycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011425:Propionibacterium acnes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002981:Clindamycin; D001585:Benzoyl Peroxide