Tobacco use increases susceptibility to bacterial infection

doi:10.1186/1617-9625-4-12

Tobacco Induced Diseases

Volume 4

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Tobacco use increases susceptibility to bacterial infection

Juhi Bagaitkar¹ , Donald R Demuth¹^,3 and David A Scott¹^,2^,3

¹Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA

²Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA

³Oral Health and Systemic Disease Research Group, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA

author email corresponding author email

Tobacco Induced Diseases 2008, 4:12doi:10.1186/1617-9625-4-12


Published:	18 December 2008

Abstract

Active smokers and those exposed to secondhand smoke are at increased risk of bacterial infection. Tobacco smoke exposure increases susceptibility to respiratory tract infections, including tuberculosis, pneumonia and Legionnaires disease; bacterial vaginosis and sexually transmitted diseases, such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea; Helicobacter pylori infection; periodontitis; meningitis; otitis media; and post-surgical and nosocomial infections. Tobacco smoke compromises the anti-bacterial function of leukocytes, including neutrophils, monocytes, T cells and B cells, providing a mechanistic explanation for increased infection risk. Further epidemiological, clinical and mechanistic research into this important area is warranted.