Adherence of Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Candida albicans to human buccal epithelial cells, from healthy persons and HIV carriers, under the influence of Broncho Vaxom in vitro and ascorbic acid in vivo.

We examined the in vitro effect of Broncho Vaxom (BV) (an immunobiotherapeutic preparation containing a lysate made from bacteria often involved in respiratory tract infections) on adherence of Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Candida albicans to human buccal epithelial cells (BEC) of healthy volunteers and HIV carriers. We also examined the ex vivo effect of ascorbic acid on the adherence of the same microorganisms to BEC of HIV carriers. The study reached the following conclusions: The presence of BV in vitro significantly reduces the adherence of the tested strains to BEC from healthy persons and HIV carriers. No significant difference was observed between healthy persons and HIV carriers regarding the adherence of the tested strains to BEC. Significant difference in the adherence of the tested strains to BEC was observed between HIV carriers who had been taking ascorbic acid over a 3-month period and those who had not. There was no further reduction in the adherence of the tested strains to BEC from HIV carriers who had been taking ascorbic acid in the presence of BV in vitro.