Another Medscape Article

[Guest guest]

Here you go --

Oral Azithromycin Shows Promise for Treatment of Acne cea

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

---------

SEVILLE, Jan 31 (Reuters Health) - The macrolide antibiotic

azithromycin seems to be safe and effective when used to treat acne

rosacea, according to results from a small series of patients presented

at the Fifth International Conference on the Macrolides, Azalides,

Streptogramins, Ketolides and Oxazolidinones.

Dr. Adolfo Fernandez-Obregon, of the Hudson Dermatology and Skin Cancer

Center in Hoboken, New Jersey, treated 10 adults with azithromycin for

their rosacea. Patients were advised to take a single dose of 250 mg

azithromycin three times a week.

The patients, who ranged in age from 32 to 76 years, had responded

poorly to previous oral regimens, did not want a repeat trial of

therapy with the same antimicrobial, or had skin that was sufficiently

irritated to justify withholding topical therapy. All of them washed

the affected skin with a commercially available soap substitute. No

patient was taking a medication that could either aggravate or improve

the signs and symptoms of rosacea.

All patients demonstrated a moderate to marked improvement in their

condition within 4 weeks. The rate of response was comparable to that

which has been reported with other antibiotics, Dr. Fernandez-Obregon

noted. There were no significant side effects from the use of the

soap-free cleanser or the use of azithromycin. Because the period of

evaluation varied from patient to patient, it was not possible to

determine the minimum time required to achieve clinical remission.

" While oral antibiotics and topical agents have been used successfully

to treat rosacea, both have drawbacks, " Dr. Fernandez-Obregon said.

" Oral antibiotics require frequent administration, which may reduce

compliance. Topical agents may cause dryness and discomfort in patients

with dry and sensitive skin. "

He added that the results point up the need for clinical trials to

study the long-term efficacy and tolerability of this approach.