Antibiotic-resistant Propionibacterium acnes among acne patients in a regional skin centre in Hong Kong

BACKGROUND

There has been no study on antibiotic-resistant Propionibacterium acnes in Hong Kong.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the prevalence and pattern of antibiotic-resistant P. acnes and to identify any associated factors for harbouring the resistant strains.

METHODS

Culture and sensitivity testing of P. acnes to commonly used antibiotics were performed. Resistance to tetracycline was defined at a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 2 μg/mL or more; erythromycin at an MIC of 0.5 μg/mL or more; clindamycin at an MIC of 0.25 μg/mL or more according to EUCAST. For breakpoints of doxycycline and minocycline, those with an MIC of 1 μg/mL or more were defined as resistant strains.

RESULTS

Among the 111 specimens collected from 111 patients, 86 strains of P. acnes were recovered, one from each specimen. Twenty-five specimens had no growth. Forty-seven (54.8%) strains were found to be resistant to one or more antibiotics. Forty-six (53.5%), 18 (20.9%), 14 (16.3%), 14(16.3%) and 14 (16.3%) strains were resistant to clindamycin (CL), erythromycin (EM), tetracycline (TET), doxycycline (DOX) and minocycline (MR) respectively. Ten strains (11.6%) had cross resistance between the MLS antibiotics (erythromycin or clindamycin), one strain (1.2%) had cross resistance among the cyclines and 14 strains (16.4%) had cross resistance between the MLS and cycline antibiotics. Binary logistic regression showed an association between MLS antibiotic resistance with an increased age whereas cycline resistance was associated with the duration of treatment.

CONCLUSION

Antibiotic-resistant P. acnes is prevalent in Hong Kong. Dermatologists should be more vigilant in prescribing antibiotics for acne patients.

Analysis of the contractile response to serotonin and tryptamine of isolated dog cerebral, femoral and mesenteric arteries

In helically-cut strips of cerebral arteries isolated from dogs, serotonin, tryptamine, 5-hydroxytryptophan and tryptophan caused a dose-related contraction. The potency was in the order of serotonin greater than tryptamine much greater than 5-hydroxytryptophan = tryptophan. In femoral arterial strips, only serotonin and tryptamine produced contractions. In cerebral arteries, the dose-response curve for serotonin was shifted to the right and downward by treatment with cinanserin, whereas in femoral and mesenteric arteries, the curves were shifted to the right. The contractile response of cerebral arteries to tryptamine was attenuated by cinanserin in concentrations above 10(-7) M; however, 10(-5) M was required to significantly reduce the response of femoral arteries. Phentolamine reduced the contractile response of femoral arteries to tryptamine, but not the response of cerebral arteries. It may be concluded that the different antagonism of cinanserin against the serotonin action on cerebral and femoral arteries is due to the ability of high concentrations of serotonin to induce relaxations of cerebral but not femoral arteries or to the different nature of receptors. Tryptamine appears to elicit contractions of cerebral arteries via a stimulation of tryptamine receptors, but elicit those of femoral arteries via stimulation of both alpha-adrenergic and tryptamine receptors. Whether or not receptors for serotonin and tryptamine are the same was not determined.

Structure-activity relationship of 5-hydroxykynurenamine analogues in isolated dog cerebral arteries

In helically-cut strips of cerebral arteries isolated from dogs, analogues of 5-hydroxykynurenamine (5-HK), including 2-(3'-aminopropyl)-aniline (Cpd. I), 2'-amino-3-dimethylamino-3'-hydroxypropiophenone(CPD. II), 2'-amino-3-dimethylamino-5'-hydroxypropiophenone (Cpd. III) and 2',3-diamino-propiophenone (kynurenamine), caused a dose-related contraction which was antagonized by treatment with methysergide. The potency for inducing contractions was in the order of 5-hydroxytryptamine greater than 5-HK greater than Cpd. III greater than kynurenamine, Cpd. I and Cpd. II. Treatment with the 5-HK analogues antagonized the contractile response to 5-hydroxytryptamine in a dose-dependent manner, the antagonistic potency being in the order of 5-HK greater than Cpd. III greater than kynurenamine, Cpd. II greater than Cpd. I. Alterations in the hydroxy group on the benzene ring and/or radicals of long side chain of 5-HK attenuated the agonistic and antagonistic actions of 5-HK; however, the attenuation of these actions differed. Thus, the radicals appear to be involved in the agonistic and antagonistic actions to a different extent.