Prediction of Tracheobronchial Colonization in Current Cigarette Smokers with Chronic Obstructive Bronchitis

Authors:
  • RIR. S. Irwin
    R. S. Irwin
  • AEA. D. Erickson
    A. D. Erickson
  • MPM. R. Pratter
    M. R. Pratter
  • VCV. M. Corrao
    V. M. Corrao
  • FGF. L. Garrity
    F. L. Garrity
  • JMJ. R. Myers
    J. R. Myers
  • JKJ. T. Kaemmerlen
    J. T. Kaemmerlen
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Abstract
To help in clarifying the conflicting data on the role of tracheobronchial microflora in chronic bronchitis, the tracheobronchial microflora of a homogeneous group of clinically stable patients with chronic obstructive bronchitis was characterized by transtracheal aspiration. Their mean percentage ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 sec to the forced vital capacity was 45%. The results were that (1) a bacterial tracheobronchial microflora was present in only 50% of the patients, (2) viridans streptococci were the bacteria most frequently isolated, and (3) the presence or absence of a tracheobronchial microflora was significantly associated with the amount of present cigarette smoking. The fact that patients who smoke less than one pack per day were most likely to have a sterile tracheobronchial tree (P=0.015) implied that there was a critical amount of cigarette smoke that impaired the clearance and/or detoxification of bacteria from the tracheobronchial tree and that it must have been persistently present.

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