title: Tobacco use increases susceptibility to bacterial infection.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA. dascot07@louisville.edu.
authors.forename: Juhi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bagaitkar
authors.forename: Donald R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Demuth
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Scott