Enhancement of host susceptibility to Staphylococcus aureus infection by chronic ethanol ingestion--modification by glucan immunostimulation.

The susceptibility of chronic ethanol-treated mice to S. aureus infection was ascertained, as was the ability of the immunostimulant glucan to modify ethanol-induced susceptibility to infection. Chronic alcohol-treated mice showed enhanced sensitivity to S. aureus. The administration of glucan significantly prolonged survival in S. aureus infected control and chronic ethanol mice.