Abstract
Excessive alcohol consumption predisposes the host to a wide range of infectious complications, particularly pulmonary infections. Factors that contribute to the development of pulmonary infections in alcohol-abusing patients include dysfunction of the protective barriers in the respiratory tract, aspiration of oropharyngeal contents, nutritional deficiencies, liver disease, and impairment of host defense mechanisms. This review discusses the complex host-pathogen interactions in the airways with an emphasis on how alcohol consumption adversely affects these mechanisms and predisposes the host to infections. Potential immunomodulatory strategies for enhancing host defense function in alcohol-consuming patients are also discussed.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Review
MeSH terms
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Alcoholism / immunology*
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Animals
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Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
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Cytokines / physiology
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Humans
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Immune Tolerance / drug effects
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Immune Tolerance / immunology
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Immunity, Active / drug effects
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Immunity, Active / immunology
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Immunity, Cellular / drug effects
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Immunity, Cellular / immunology
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Immunity, Innate / drug effects
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Immunity, Innate / immunology
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Immunocompromised Host / drug effects
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Immunocompromised Host / immunology*
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Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use
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Mice
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Opportunistic Infections / drug therapy
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Opportunistic Infections / immunology*
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Pneumocystis carinii*
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Pneumonia, Bacterial / drug therapy
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Pneumonia, Bacterial / immunology*
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Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / drug therapy
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Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / immunology*
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Rats
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Risk Factors
Substances
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Anti-Bacterial Agents
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Cytokines
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Immunologic Factors