Using
antibiotics to treat acne for long periods may double the
risk of throat infections, a study says.
The University of Pennsylvania team found using antibiotics
for more than six weeks increased the chance of a range of
infections within a year.
Long-term use of antibiotics is a standard and commonly-used
treatment for people with severe acne.
A senior British GP acknowledged the risk of infection but
said the findings were not likely to alter practice.
The US researchers used a UK medical database to compare the
number of upper respiratory tract infections, such as the
common cold, sore throat, tonsillitis and laryngitis, in people
with acne taking antibiotics compared to those not taking
the drugs.
Out of 118,496 people with acne surveyed, 72% received either
topical or oral antibiotics for more than six weeks to treat
their condition, the Archives of Dermatology reported.
"Yes,
there is a risk of infection, but that does not mean we
should stop using antibiotics"-
Peter Swinyard, of the British Medical Association
Within
the first year, 15% of patients with acne suffered at least
one infection. The odds of an infection developing in someone
on antibiotics were about 2.15 times greater than in those
not on the drugs.
Antibiotics increase the risk of infection by replacing "good"
bacteria in the throat.
Lead researcher Dr David Margolis said: "The true clinical
importance of our findings, in which patients and practitioners
need to balance the risk of these infections with the benefits
that patients with acne will receive from this therapy, will
require further investigation."
Peter Swinyard, a member of the British Medical Association's
GPs committee, said the risk was known, but would not change
practice in the UK as the benefits of using antibiotics outweighed
the negatives.
"Acne can be a major problem for teenagers and women. It can
lead to breakdowns in relationships and loss of confidence.
"It is about time we acknowledged how serious it can be. Yes,
there is a risk of infection, but that does not mean we should
stop using antibiotics.
"However, personally, I have not noticed a particular problem
with infections."
