A small (45 patients) recent study out of Edmonton found that when you used a combination of an antibiotic pill and a probiotic, there was a synergistic effect in the treatment of acne and fewer side effects.
Another recent study published Sept. 25 in the journal mBio found a group of harmless viruses that live alongside acne-causing bacteria (P.acnes) which may have the power to stop acne before it starts. This may indeed be a very useful targetted killing of acne bacteria, although it may be some time before something like this hits the market.
Dr. Barankin was quoted on GlobalNews.ca on Sept. 26, 2012 discussing this acne story.