Using antibiotics to treat acne for long periods may double the risk of throat infections, a study says. The University of Pennsylvania team found using antibiotics for more than six weeks increased the chance of a range of infections within a year. Long-term use of antibiotics is a standard and commonly-used treatment for people with severe acne. A senior British GP acknowledged the risk of infection but said the findings were not likely to alter practice. The US researchers used a UK medical database to compare the number of upper respiratory tract infections, such as the common cold, sore throat, tonsillitis and laryngitis, in people with acne taking antibiotics compared to those not taking the drugs.
