Duration of Oral Antibiotics Administration for Cetuximab-Induced Acneiform Eruption

Acneiform eruption is the most common cutaneous adverse event associated with cetuximab. As it can affect quality of life and adversely affect chemotherapy schedule, additional medical care is required.

To investigate the adherence to and the duration of antibiotic administration to treat cetuximab-induced acneiform eruption.

Medical data of patients who were referred to the Department of Dermatology were reviewed from January 2013 to June 2018. Dermatologists assessed the severity of acneiform eruption and prescribed tetracycline-class antibiotics according to the severity every 2 or 4 weeks. We investigated the duration and amount of oral antibiotic administration and analyzed the factors that may affect the control of acneiform eruption statistically.

A total of 207 of 267 patients referred to the Department of Dermatology showed acneiform eruption; 124 patients were treated with minocycline, 34 patients with doxycycline, 27 patients with both, and 22 patients with topical agents. The mean duration of oral antibiotic medication was 82.7 days. A statistical analysis of the factors that prolonged the use of antibiotics for more than 90 days showed that male and younger age were risk factors. Shorter time interval from starting cetuximab to starting antibiotics was associated with longer duration of antibiotic use, statistically.

Cetuximab-induced acneiform eruption can be well controlled with tetracycline-class antibiotics in about 3 months. It can last longer in male and younger patients. The sooner and the more severe it appears, the longer it can last.