Antibiotics, Acne, and Upper Respiratory Tract Infections

About two million people per year in the U.S have acne severe enough to require treatment with antibiotics. Treatment frequently lasts for more than six months, prompting concerns about antibiotic resistance and other possible consequences of long-term antibiotic use, such as increased susceptibility to infections. This Issue Brief summarizes a large study that evaluates the risk for upper respiratory and urinary tract infections among adolescents and young adults treated with antibiotics for acne.