The Differential Effect of Cigarette Smoke on the Growth of Bacteria Found in Humans

doi:10.1378/chest.100.3.628

Chest

Volume 100, Issue 3, September 1991, Pages 628-630

https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.100.3.628 Get rights and content

The effect of cigarette smoke on growth of those species of bacteria that are considered common potential human pathogens was examined in vitro. Smoke from both mentholated and nonmentholated cigarettes inhibited the growth of Gram-positive cocci to a greater degree than that of Gram-negative rods. Staphylococcus aureus. Streptococcus pneumoniae, and a variety of other streptococci were inhibited at a smoke solution dilution of 1:8. Enteric bacteria such as Klebsiella, Enterobacter, and Pseudomonas were not affected by a 1:1 dilution of the solution. As with the Gram-positive cocci, the Neisseria species and Branhamella were also inhibited at a dilution of 1:8. Culture results of the mouth of 15 smokers and 15 nonsmokers showed that the smokers have a propensity to develop heavy Gram-negative bacterial colonization.

(Chest 1991; 100:628-30)

Section snippets

Bacterial Isolates Studies

All isolates studied were collected from mouth cultures and respiratory tract cultures of patients over several months. The isolates were stored frozen at — 70°C, and when needed, were thawed and grown on sheep blood tryptic soy agar or chocolate agar (Hemophilus species) before testing.

Preparation of Smoke Solution

Smoke from two brands of cigarettes (Kool or Camel) was drawn through 10 ml of tryptic soy broth (BBL, Cockeysville, Md) to produce a minimum steady stream of bubbles. The smoke-saturated solution was filter

RESULTS

With few exceptions, the Gram-positive cocci were more susceptible to growth inhibition by cigarette smoke than the Gram-negative bacilli (Fig 1). Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Serratia, Providencia, Citrobacter, and Acinetobacter were all resistant to a 1:1 dilution of the smoke solution. The Gram-positive cocci, with the exception of Enterococcus faecalis, were susceptible to growth inhibition even at dilutions as high at 1:8. The three fastidious

DISCUSSION

Tobacco has long been considered, especially in the premodern medical era, to have medicinal value. Tobacco and tobacco smoke have been used on infected body sites and have allegedly effected improvements if not cures.⁷ Many of the components of cigarette smoke have been identified, and compounds such as nicotine and acrolein have been shown to be present in high concentrations.⁸

The nicotine content in unfiltered cigarettes is in the range of 1 mg.⁹ The smoke from this cigarette may transfer a

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Estudio retrospectivo multicéntrico de 855 mujeres con ITUR tratadas con pauta antibiótica supresiva o vacuna bacteriana entre 2009 y 2013. Grupo A (GA): Antibiótico (n = 495); Subgrupos: GA1 no fumadora (n = 417), GA2 fumadora (n = 78). Grupo B (GB): Vacuna (n = 360); Subgrupos: GB1 no fumadora (n = 263), GB2 fumadora (n = 97). Variables: edad, ITU pre-tratamiento, tiempo libre de enfermedad (TLE), especie microbiana, sensibilidad y resistencia. Seguimiento a 3, 6 y 12 meses con cultivo y cuestionario SF-36.
Edad media 56,51 años (18-75), similar entre grupos (p = 0,2257). Sin diferencia en número de ITU pre-tratamiento (p = 0,1329) ni en distribución del espectro bacteriano (p = 0,7471). El TLE fue superior en los subgrupos B respecto a los correspondientes A. Urocultivos en GA1: E. coli 62,71% con el 8,10% resistencia (33% quinolonas; 33% cotrimoxazol; 33% quinolonas + cotrimoxazol); en GA2 E. coli 61,53% con 75% resistencia (16,66% quinolonas; 33,33% quinolonas + cotrimoxazol; 16,66% amoxicilina/ácido clavulánico; 16,66% eritromicina + fosfomicina + clindamicina) (p = 0,0133). En GA no hubo diferencias entre pacientes tratadas con cotrimoxazol y nitrofurantoina (p = 0,8724). Urocultivos en GB1: E. coli 47,36% con el 22,22% resistencias (5,55% ciprofloxacino; 5,55% cotrimoxazol; 5,55% ciprofloxacino + cotrimoxazol; 5,55% amoxicilina/ácido clavulánico). En GB2 E. coli 70,02% con el 61,90% resistencias (30,76% quinolonas; 30,76% cotrimoxazol; 30,76% quinolonas + cotrimoxazol; 17,69% amoxicilina/ácido clavulánico) (p = 0,0144).
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Smoking cessation advice is an important part of the management in these women. The strong association with smoking is unclear but several factors have been postulated5,6 including: build up of toxic metabolites
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Citation Excerpt :
Smoking cessation advice is an important part of the management in these women. The strong association with smoking is unclear but several factors have been postulated5,6 including build up of toxic metabolites
Benign breast disorders (BBD) account for over 90% of referrals to rapid access breast clinics. Many women experiencing breast symptoms fear they may have breast cancer and GPs, because of the sensitivities around the diagnosis of breast cancer and the fear of a ‘delayed’ diagnosis have a low threshold for referral. It is also true that breast symptoms per se are poor discriminators of benign from malignant conditions and clinical signs of breast cancer in the era of very high ‘breast awareness’ are subtle. The assessment of women with BBD consumes a substantial proportion of breast outpatient resource yet most will only need a single multi-modality triple assessment. Although the exclusion of breast cancer is the primary concern of most women, they also seek an explanation of the aetiology of their breast symptoms and signs. A sound understanding of the anatomy, physiology, and function of the breast is needed to manage this anxious cohort of women. In order to better understand BBD it is helpful to consider the following headings: (i) congenital disorders; (ii) aberrations of normal development and involution (ANDI); (iii) other miscellaneous problems. This article follows this format but in practice the majority of women with BBD fall within the ANDI framework.
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: Manuscript received September 24; revision accepted February 15

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Chest

Section snippets

Bacterial Isolates Studies

Preparation of Smoke Solution

RESULTS

DISCUSSION

REFERENCES (14)

French diplomat proclaims the medicinal properties of tobacco.

Mayo Clin Proc

Viability of six species of normal oropharyngeal bacteria after exposure to cigarette smoke in vitro.

Microbios

An in vitro study of the exposure of mixed populations of normal oropharyngeal bacteria to cigarette smoke.

Microbios

Effects of tobacco smoking on plaque development and gingivitis.

J Periodontol

Cigarette smoking and the microbial flora of the mouth.

Aust Dent J

Susceptibility tests: microdilution and macrodilution broth procedures.

Cited by (55)

Alcohol Consumption and the Diversity of the Oral Microbiome in Postmenopausal Women

The influence of smoking on bacterial resistance after vaccine or antibiotic prophylaxis against recurrent urinary tract infections

Benign breast disorders

Benign breast disorders

Can smoking alter salivary homeostasis? A systematic review on the effects of traditional and electronic cigarettes on qualitative and quantitative saliva parameters

Organizing biology learning through Vee-diagrams to improve higher-order thinking skills

Chest

Clinical InvestigationsThe Differential Effect of Cigarette Smoke on the Growth of Bacteria Found in Humans

Section snippets

Bacterial Isolates Studies

Preparation of Smoke Solution

RESULTS

DISCUSSION

Mayo Clin Proc

Viability of six species of normal oropharyngeal bacteria after exposure to cigarette smoke in vitro.

Microbios

An in vitro study of the exposure of mixed populations of normal oropharyngeal bacteria to cigarette smoke.

Microbios

Effects of tobacco smoking on plaque development and gingivitis.

J Periodontol

Cigarette smoking and the microbial flora of the mouth.

Aust Dent J

Susceptibility tests: microdilution and macrodilution broth procedures.

Clinical Investigations
The Differential Effect of Cigarette Smoke on the Growth of Bacteria Found in Humans