E-Cigarette Vapor May Make MRSA Bacteria More Aggressive

Smoking weakens the immune system and lowers the ability of human cells to fight infection – research has shown this over and over again. Smoking cigarettes, and breathing in second-hand smoke, puts people at risk for developing severe lung and respiratory track infections. Smokers are two to four times more likely to develop pneumococcal pneumonia than non-smokers. Cigarette smoking also increases the rates and severity of influenza infection and increases the risk of tuberculosis.

But what if the problem isn’t just that cigarette smoke weakens the immune system, but actually makes the bacteria more aggressive? Read more...