Group of 51 patients with more serious form of acne was divided in a group of 17 patients treated with tetracycline antibiotics (tetracycline or doxycycline) and in a group of 34 patients treated with freeze-dried vaccine in capsules containing strains of Propionibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococ­cus epidermidis. Comparison of the results showed no significant differences between the therapy with oral vaccine and antibiotics. The effect of vaccine was very good in 15 patients (44.1 %) and good in 19 patients (55.9 %). The effect of antibiotics was very good in 8 patients (47 %), good in 7 (41.2 %) and weak in 2 (11.8 %) patients. In the group treated by vaccine no side effects were noted, during the therapy with doxycyc­line Íntolerance was observed in one čase. Advantage of vaccine therapy is a possibility of long-term appli-cation that prevents the relapses of inflammatory acne symptoms which are common after cessation of anti-biotic treatment.

        Key words: acne - therapy - bacterial immunomodulators - oral vaccines - antibiotics