Oropharynx microbiota among alcoholics and non-alcoholics.
BACKGROUND
The oropharynx microbiota plays an important role in the origin of infections, especially among alcoholics whose airway defenses are impaired.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the normal oropharingeal flora in heavy alcohol drinker and non-alcoholics.


METHODS
117 persons, 58 heavy alcohol drinkers and 59 non-alcoholics.


METHODS
Santa Casa de São Paulo Emergency Service.


METHODS
A blind prospective study.


METHODS
Prevalence of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, and fungi.


RESULTS
The study of the oropharynx microbiota among heavy alcohol drinkers demonstrated the presence of anaerobic microorganisms in 84.5% of them, including: Bacteroides sp, Prevotella melaninogenica, Fusobacterium sp, Veilonella sp, Peptostreptococcus sp, Propionibacterium sp, Bifidobacterium sp and Clostridium sp, versus 30.5% (p < 0.005) of non-alcoholics. Candida sp was present in 34.5% of heavy alcohol drinkers and 5.1% of non-alcoholics (p < 0.005). Enterobacteria predominated among heavy alcohol drinkers (25%) compared with non-alcoholics (5.5%) only in the age group 14 to 34 years (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Based upon these results, it was possible to conclude that the knowledge of the oropharynx microbiota among heavy drinkers and non-alcoholics has an important predictive value concerning probable etiologic agents of lower airway infections. Infections caused by anaerobic microorganisms and fungi should be taken into consideration during the choice of empirical therapy for heavy alcohol drinkers.
Golin
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Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo, Brazil.
Mimica
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Mimica
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology; D004754:Enterobacter / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology