[Alcohol and infections]

For many years, chronic alcoholism has been associated with increased susceptibility to infectious diseases. This report reviews some of the current knowledge on this topic. Lung infections in particular occur frequently among alcoholics. Alcohol has been shown experimentally to inhibit many aspects of our defense mechanisms against infections. These mechanisms include unspecific external defense mechanisms such as mucociliary clearance and glottic reflexes. Reduced phagocytic functions have also been demonstrated, reflected in reduced reticuloendothelial clearance, and, in addition, proliferative responses of immunocompetent T-cells. Most studies have been carried out on individuals with a serious drinking problem, in most cases alcoholics. We still know little about the effect of a single large intake of alcohol, or of moderate alcohol consumption, on infections among normal individuals.