Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, an antibiotic-resistant superbug, when exposed to cigarette smoke become even more resistant to the immune system, according to a study published in Infection and Immunity.
Researchers infected immune cells that engulf pathogens with MRSA. Some of the bacteria were grown normally and some were grown with cigarette smoke extract.
The study found that they had a harder time killing MRSA in cells that had been exposed to cigarette smoke extract. The data suggests that cigarette smoke strengthens MRSA bacteria by altering their cell walls in such a way that they are better able to repel antimicrobial peptides and other charged particles.
"Cigarette smokers are known to be more susceptible to infectious diseases. Now we have evidence that cigarette smoke-induced resistance in MRSA may be an additional contributing factor," said senior author Laura E. Crotty Alexander, MD.
