Inhibition of neutrophil chemotactic factor production in comedonal bacteria by subminimal inhibitory concentrations of erythromycin.

The effect of 1/10 minimal inhibitory concentrations (sub-MIC) of erythromycin (EM) on human neutrophil chemotactic factor production in comedonal bacteria, Propionibacterium acnes strains, Propionibacterium granulosum strains and coagulase-negative staphylococcus (CNS) strains was assayed using the Boyden chamber method. Sub-MIC of EM significantly suppressed neutrophil chemotactic factor production in all strains of P. acnes, P. granulosum and CNS. Our results suggest that sub-MIC of EM may have an anti-inflammatory action by reducing the inflammatory capacity of comedonal bacteria in inflammatory acne.