Research from Queen’s University Belfast suggests key lung pathogens become more virulent and persistent in the presence of e-cigarette vapour (ECV).
The three-year study compared the effect of ECV and cigarette smoke (CSE) on the virulence and inflammatory potential of Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
The results, published in Respiratory Research, suggest that the effect of exposure to ECV on bacterial phenotype and virulence is comparable, and in some cases greater, than that observed following CSE exposure. Statistically significant increases in biofilm and cytokine secretion were observed following bacterial exposure to either ECV or CSE, compared with non-exposed bacteria.
Dr Deirdre Gilpin, researcher and lecturer from the School of Pharmacy at Queen’s University and lead author of the research explains: "There is currently a knowledge gap about whether vaping is harmful, or less harmful than smoking tobacco."
“Bacteria have long been associated with the development of lung diseases such as bronchitis and pneumonia where smoking plays a role. Our study is the first of its kind which aimed to compare the effect of cigarette smoke and e-cigarette vapour on key lung bacteria.”
The authors say there is an urgent need for further robust clinical studies investigating and clarifying the long-term effect of e-cigarette use on both airway cells and respiratory pathogens to enable a better informed judgement to be made regarding their safety.
