Alcoholism raises pneumonia risk

Alcohol abuse or alcoholism raises the risk of developing severe pneumonia. Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs that can be caused by various bacteria, viruses or fungi. The pneumococcal vaccine protects against infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria, which in the U.S. causes an estimated 500,000 cases of pneumonia and 40,000 deaths each year. Researchers from the University of Barcelona conducted a study of more than 1,300 Spanish adults who were hospitalised for pneumonia. It was found that alcoholic patients were more likely to suffer a severe case of the lung infection. Among the study participants, the alcoholic patients were on an average 10 years younger, than patients with no history of drinking problems (58 years old, versus 68). Older adults were more likely to develop and die from pneumonia, which is why experts recommend that people 65 years and older should receive the pneumococcal vaccine. Both current and recovering alcoholics were more likely to have pneumonia caused by S. pneumoniae infection than other patients. Current alcoholics were younger and tended to have more severe pneumonia. They suffered from symptoms like chest pain and breathlessness more often when they were admitted to the hospital. Alcohol abuse is believed to make people more vulnerable to pneumonia due to its effects on the immune system. The findings strongly support giving alcoholics the pneumococcal vaccine and, if they develop pneumonia, admitting them to the intensive care unit sooner.