N-acetylcysteine improves group B streptococcus clearance in a rat model of chronic ethanol ingestion.

Background: Sepsis is the most common risk factor associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and results in a 40-60% mortality rate due to respiratory failure. Furthermore, recent epidemiological studies have demonstrated that a history of alcohol abuse increases the risk of ARDS by 3.6-fold. More recently, group B streptococcus (GBS) infections in nonpregnant adults have been increasing, particularly in alcoholics where there is an increased risk of lobular invasion and mortality. We have shown in an established rat model that chronic ethanol ingestion impaired macrophage internalization of inactivated infectious particles in vitro and enhanced bidirectional protein flux across the alveolar epithelial-endothelial barriers, both of which were attenuated when glutathione precursors were added to the diet. We hypothesized that chronic ethanol ingestion would increase the risk of infection even though GBS is less pathogenic but that dietary N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a glutathione precursor, would improve in vivo clearance of infectious particles and reduce systemic infection.

Methods: After 6 weeks of ethanol feeding, rats were given GBS intratracheally and sacrificed 24 hours later. GBS colony-forming units were counted in the lung, liver, spleen, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Acute lung injury in response to GBS was also assessed.

Results: Chronic ethanol exposure decreased GBS clearance from the lung indicating an active lung infection. In addition, increased colonies formed within the liver and spleen indicated that ethanol increased the risk of systemic infection. Ethanol also exacerbated the acute lung injury induced by GBS. NAC supplementation normalized GBS clearance by the lung, prevented the appearance of GBS systemically, and attenuated acute lung injury.

Conclusions: These data suggested that chronic alcohol ingestion increased the susceptibility of the lung to bacterial infections from GBS as well as systemic infections. Furthermore, dietary NAC improved in vivo clearance of GBS particles, attenuated acute lung injury, and disseminated infection.