Effect of salmeterol on Haemophilus influenzae infection of respiratory mucosa in vitro

Haemophilus influenzae is a common bacterial pathogen causing human respiratory tract infections. We have previously shown that the beta2-agonist salmeterol reduces damage to the respiratory mucosa caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vitro. We have now investigated the effect of salmeterol on H. influenzae infection of adenoid tissue in an organ culture by scanning electron microscopy. Tissue was preincubated with or without salmeterol (4x10(-7)M), prior to infection with H. influenzae and incubated for 12 or 24 h. Infected organ cultures had increased epithelial damage and decreased numbers of both ciliated and unciliated cells at 12h, which were significantly different (p