A randomized, investigator-blinded trial to assess the antimicrobial efficacy of a benzoyl peroxide 5%/ clindamycin phosphate 1% gel compared with a clindamycin phosphate 1.2%/tretinoin 0.025% gel in the topical treatment of acne vulgaris.

BACKGROUND

Combination products in which the individual components have different mechanisms of antimicrobial action have been shown in many disease states to provide the most effective therapy.

METHODS

This 16-week, two-center, investigator-blinded, randomized, parallel-group study evaluated the antimicrobial efficacy of clindamycin phosphate 1%/benzoyl peroxide 5% gel (BPO/C) as compared to a clindamycin phosphate 1.2%/tretinoin 0.025% gel (T/C) over 16 weeks in the treatment of moderate to moderately severe acne.

RESULTS

While subjects in both arms experienced reductions in total Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) counts, the BPO/C arm produced greater reductions throughout the study. Furthermore, overall reductions in the number of clindamycin-resistant and erythromycin-resistant P. acnes occurred only in BPO/C treated subjects.

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that clindamycin phosphate 1%/benzoyl peroxide 5% gel reduces P. acnes counts and mitigates the emergence of antimicrobial resistance.