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Culturing of Human Nasal Epithelial Cells at the Air Liquid Interface
Published on: October 8, 2013
Effects of opium smoking cessation on the nasopharyngeal microbial flora
Ali Golshiri1, Mohammad Reza Mokhtaree2, Ziba Shabani3
1Assistant Professor of Otorhinolaryngology and Chief of Moradi Hospital, Departments of Otorhinolaryngology, Moradi Hospital, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
Background:
To determine the effect of opium smoking cessation on the frequency and type of microorganisms in the nasopharynx of opium smokers.
Methods:
This was a cross-sectional study performed in psychology and ENT department of Moradi Hospital of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences in 2008 (Kerman, Iran). Nasopharyngeal cultures were taken from 50 opium smokers before and 2 to 3 months after cessation of opium smoking. Potential pathogens were identified.
Findings:
Eight potential pathogens were isolated from nasopharyngeal cultures obtained from 43 individuals before opium smoking cessation, and 4 were recovered from 33 individuals after cessation (P < 0.0001). Streptococcus pneumonia, staphylococcus saprofiticus, streptococos α hemolytic, and staphylococcus aureus in 2(nd) culture were not seen. The most sensitivity to antibiotics was related to ceftriaxone (84%), ciprofloxacin (74%) and cloxacillin (72%); the most resistance was to amoxicillin (26%) and the least resistance was to chloramphenicol.
Conclusion:
In our study, some potential pathogens decreased or even disapeared after opium cessation. Our patients have not been advised to change their number of cigarettes. We have used methadone pill for substitution of opium. It seems that opium smoking affects nasopharyngeal flora.
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