The antimicrobial activity of lidocaine in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BA
L(f)) was investigated. Clinical respiratory isolates were added to BAL(f)
suspensions containing lidocaine and to normal saline. The growth of two of
four isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae was significantly reduced in the
presence of lidocaine-BAL(f) compared with controls in saline. Growth of M
oraxella catarrhalis isolates was reduced in normal saline when compared wi
th BAL(f) containing lidocaine. There was no effect upon the growth of Haem
ophilus influenzae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans isolates. T
he recovery of isolates of S. pneumoniae may be reduced below the critical
threshold of 10(5) cfu/ml during bronchoscopy when using lidocaine as a loc
al anaesthetic.