ISSN: 0973-7510

E-ISSN: 2581-690X

Research Article | Open Access
Xuong Mau Tu1,2, Phong Xuan Huynh1, Lieu Thuy Thi Nguyen3,
Long Dang Hoang Bui1, Thanh Ngoc Nguyen1 and Dung Ngoc Tran4
1Institute of Food and Biotechnology, Can Tho University, Can Tho City, Vietnam.
2Can Tho Hospital of Dermato-Venereology, Can Tho City, Vietnam.
3Faculty of Medicine, Tra Vinh University, Vinh Long Province, Vietnam.
4Faculty of Medicine, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Can Tho City, Vietnam.
Article Number: 11341 | © The Author(s). 2026
J Pure Appl Microbiol. 2026;20(3):2235-2247. https://doi.org/10.22207/JPAM.20.3.14
Received: 19 January 2026 | Accepted: 09 June 2026 | Published online: 01 August 2026
Issue online: September 2026
Abstract

Cutibacterium acnes is a dominant member of the human skin microbiota and is closely associated with the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris. The increasing emergence of antibiotic-resistant C. acnes strains has raised concerns regarding the long-term effectiveness of current therapies. This study aimed to characterize antibiotic susceptibility patterns and genomic features of C. acnes isolates obtained from healthy individuals and acne patients with different disease severities. A total of 45 participants were enrolled, including healthy controls and patients with mild and moderate-severe acne. C. acnes isolates recovered from pilosebaceous follicles were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method against five antibiotics including clindamycin, tetracycline, azithromycin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX), and doxycycline. Representative isolates were selected for whole-genome sequencing, followed by multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) and antimicrobial resistance gene annotation. The results showed that most isolates remained highly susceptible to tetracycline-class antibiotics and TMP-SMX, whereas resistance to macrolides and clindamycin was detected, particularly among moderate-severe acne isolates. Genomic analysis revealed notable genetic diversity among the isolates and identified a single antimicrobial resistance gene, erm(51), consistent with the observed resistance phenotype. Overall, antimicrobial resistance in the analyzed C. acnes population was limited but detectable. The integration of phenotypic susceptibility testing with whole-genome analysis provides valuable insights for antimicrobial resistance surveillance and supports rational antibiotic use in acne management.

Keywords

Cutibacterium acnes, Acne Vulgaris, Antibiotic Susceptibility, Antimicrobial Resistance, Whole-genome Sequencing, MLST

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© The Author(s) 2026. Open Access. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License which permits unrestricted use, sharing, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.