Abstract
Ciliated epithelial cells were obtained from nasal polyps. Bacterial adherence to these cells was compared for the ability to bind Hemophilus influenzae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Branhamella catarrhalis in the presence of 10–5 M erythromycin, which was comparable with a physiologically attainable concentration in the nasal secretion and the maxillary sinus mucosa. Quantification of bacterial adherence showed the strongest ability of P. aeruginosa to the cells. Erythromycin has an inhibitory effect on adherence of P. aeruginose and B. catarrhalis to the nasal epithelial cell. Our findings suggest that the reduced adherence to the host cell is one of the underlying mechanisms to account for efficacy of erythromycin treatment in respiratory disorders.
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