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Alcoholics are more susceptible than the general population to pneumonia, apparently in some cases because of nutritional deficiencies. Ethyl alcohol produced a profound depression in the rate of leukocyte mobilization into traumatized skin of nutritionally normal people, and was comparable to that observed in terminal phases of medical shock. Diabetic patients showed a less marked decrease in mobilization. No significant depression of polymorphonuclear-leukocyte mobilization was found in patients with cirrhosis or uremia, in coma or undergoing prolonged general Anesthesia for major surgery. Human polymorphonuclear leukocytes, obtained after alcohol was given, or leukocytes exposed to alcohol in vitro showed no decrease in ability to ingest or kill ingested bacteria. Diminished leukocyte mobilization may contribute substantially to the increased susceptibility to infection in the lung parenchyma noted in alcoholics and in diabetic patients or those with severe prolonged shock.
Brayton et al. (1970) studied this question.