The effect of intravenous ethanol on the bactericidal activity of human serum.

Serious gram-negative bacterial infections (e.g. pneumonias caused by Escherichia coli, Hemophilus influenzae, and Klebsiella pneumoniae) are encountered with increased frequency in chronic alcoholics.`3 Normal human serum is bactericidal for many strains of gram-negative bacteria.'" A decrease in serum bactericidal activity might render the host more susceptible to infection caused by these organisms. Studies by Kaplan and Braude6 on two human volunteers suggested that the bactericidal activity of serum was decreased against a strain of Escherichia coli and a strain of Hemophilus influensae following ingestion of ethanol (ethyl alcohol). The present study was undertaken to extend the studies of Kaplan and Braude and to determine if ethanol administered intravenously to normal human volunteers alters the bactericidal activity of serum.