Cigarette smoke exposure promotes bacterial colonization of the upper-respiratory tract

Recurrent bacterial infections of the respiratory tract contribute to the progression of the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). There is evidence that exacerbations of COPD are provoked by new bacterial strains acquired from the environment. Using a murine model of colonization, we show that chronic exposure to cigarette smoke promotes nasopharyngeal colonization with bacterial pathogens of the lung. Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) only marginally colonized air exposed mice and exposure to cigarette smoke resulted in significantly increased numbers of viable NTHi in the upper respiratory tra…