Bacteria in lung tissue from an autopsy population of alcoholics

The retrieval of bacteria from the lungs postmortem was examined in a popul ation of alcoholics who had a medico-legal autopsy performed. The results w ere compared with non-alcoholic controls. Pneumococci were found more frequ ently in alcoholics, but in general there were no major differences. Proteu s mirabilis was detected in three out of five alcoholics with unascertainab le cause of death. It is speculated whether this species may cause septicae mia in some alcoholics due to abnormal splanchnicus circulation. (C) 1999 E lsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.