Inhaled fluticasone propionate impairs pulmonary clearance of Klebsiella pneumoniae in mice.

Background: Recent trials demonstrate increased pneumonia risk in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients treated with the inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) fluticasone propionate (FP). There is limited work describing FP effects on host defenses against bacterial pneumonia.

Methods: C57BL/6 mice received daily, nose-only exposure to nebulized FP or vehicle for 8 days, followed by pulmonary challenge with Klebsiella pneumoniae.

The impact of alcohol on BCG-induced immunity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Background: Alcoholics are at heightened risk for developing active tuberculosis. This study evaluates chronic alcohol consumption in a murine model of vaccination with Mycobacterium bovis Bacille Calmette-Guèrin (BCG) and subsequent pulmonary infection with virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Methods: BALB/c mice were administered the Lieber-DeCarli liquid ethanol diet or pair-fed the liquid control diet for 3 weeks either before or after subcutaneous vaccination with M.