Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 28, 2026

Studying Effects of Cigarette Smoke on Pseudomonas Infection in Lung Epithelial Cells
Published on: May 11, 2020
Pulmonary complications associated with illicit drug use. An update
A E O'Donnell1, J Selig, M Aravamuthan
1Department of Medicine, District of Columbia General Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Study Objective:
In earlier years, nonopportunistic infectious pulmonary complications of illicit drug use were most common. We designed this study to update the pulmonary complications associated with illicit drug use in the 1990s.
Design:
Concurrent and retrospective chart review.
Setting:
Inner-city municipal hospital.
Patients:
All illicit drug users with pulmonary complications seen by the pulmonary consult service were enrolled in the study. There were 105 hospital admissions of 97 patients in a 14-month study period.
Results:
Sixty percent of the patients had HIV infection. The most common pulmonary complications were Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (30%) followed by community-acquired pneumonia (12%) and tuberculosis (9%).
Conclusions:
The spectrum of pulmonary disease in illicit drug users has changed since 1988. Opportunistic HIV-related disease is much more common. Community-acquired pneumonia and tuberculosis remain relatively frequent complications. Septic pulmonary embolism is now rare.
Related Concept Videos
Drugs Used in Lower Respiratory Disorders: Overview
Bronchodilators, the first step of respiration enhancement, come in various forms, each with its own mechanism...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Smoking is a primary risk factor for COPD, with over 80% of patients having a history of it. Patients typically experience progressive dyspnea or labored breathing, frequent coughing, and recurrent pulmonary infections. Many eventually succumb to respiratory failure, characterized by...
Other Pulmonary Disorders
Pulmonary Tuberculosis I
Causative Organism
The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
Mode of...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-III: Symptoms and Complications.
Symptoms of COPD can be classified as primary or systemic. Primary symptoms relate to reduced airflow, while systemic or extrapulmonary symptoms relate to COPD's broader impact on the body.
Primary Symptoms of COPD:
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations

