The effect of rifampicin on transplantable tumor growth and antitumor immunity was studied. The growth of transplantable lung sarcoma was significantly enhanced in mice when rifampicin was given for 7 days or longer. Also, the antitumor effects of preimmunization of the animals with killed tumor cells were abrogated by this antibiotic. In vitro studies showed that spleen cells from tumor-bearing animals expressed significantly lower specific cytotoxicity toward syngeneic tumor cells, when the animals had been previously treated with rifampicin. Also, natural killer activity in healthy animals was diminished in mice receiving the antibiotic.

The aim of the study was to assess the influence of general anesthesia on bacterial growth in bronchial tree, depending upon the applied method of anesthesia. The artificial airway is the additional gate for respiratory tract infections and mechanical ventilation which can have an influence on postoperative complications such as pneumonia and atelectasis. Patients undergoing 4h surgeries were sampled. Due to selection of anesthetics, volatile or intravenous, patients were divided into groups VGA (volatile general anesthesia) and TIVA (total intravenous anesthesia). Material collected with minibronchoalveolar lavage method directly after intubation and just before extubation. In 40% of all patients no bacteria growth was noted in both time points. In VGA group, from the bacteria cultured in 61.9% of patients in first sample, 62.5% of colonies diminished or eradicated, only 6.25% multiplied. In TIVA group 42.9% patients presented bacteria in first sample. All bacteria got reduced. Length of hospitalization preceding surgery (p=0.036) and number of smoked cigarettes (p=0.028) significantly correlated with colonization of bacteria. General anesthesia has no influence on the respiratory tract microorganism contamination and can even favour the eradication of the colonizing bacterial flora.