[Tobacco smoke and risk of bacterial infection].
BACKGROUND
Tobacco smoke is a proven risk factor for bacterial infection.


BACKGROUND
In adults without COPD, smoking is associated with a significant increase in the relative risk (RR) of pneumonia (RR=2.97; 95% CI 1.52-5.81), S pneumoniae pneumonia (RR=2.50; 95% IC 1.50-5.10), Legionella infection (RR=3.75; 95% CI 2.17-6.17). Smoking has clearly been shown to be associated with an increased risk of tuberculosis (RR=2.60; 95% CI 2,20-3,20), and also with increased incidence of post-operative infections. In young children whose parents smoke, passive exposure to tobacco smoke is associated with an increased relative risk of seasonal infections (RR=1.7; CI 95% 1.55-1.91) and recurrent otitis media (RR=1.48; 95% CI 1.08-2.04). Passive smoking also increases risk of pneumonia in adults (RR=2.5; CI 95% 1.2-5.1). Plausible explanations of the increased risk of infection in active or passive smokers include increased bacterial adherence, decrease of lung and nasal clearance, and changes in the immune response.


CONCLUSIONS
Exposure to tobacco smoke approximately doubles the risk of infection. This increased burden of infection has significant healthcare cost implications. Each infectious episode in an individual should prompt an attempt at smoking cessation.
Trosini-Desert
V
V
Service de Pneumologie, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France.
Germaud
P
P
Dautzenberg
B
B
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution