Differential susceptibility of Propionibacterium acnes, P. granulosum and P. avidum to free fatty acids

Abstract

The susceptibility of 98 Propionibacterium acnes, P. granulosum and P. avidum strains isolated from acne cases and appropriate reference strains to decanoic, dodecanoic, octadeca-9,12 dienoc, and octadeca-9,12,15 trienoic acids was investigated using minimal inhibitory concentration estimation by an agar dilution technique. The tested acids showed their relative antibacterial activity in the following order: C18:3 Δ 9,12,15>C18:2 Δ 9,12>C12:0>C10:0. Differences between minimal inhibitory concentration values for P. acnes, and P. avidum versus P. granulosum strains were demonstrated in the cases of octadeca-9,12 dienoic, and octadeca-9,12,15 trienoic acids.